What does a Pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple procedure) involve?
The Whipple procedure is a complex surgery to remove the head of the pancreas, the duodenum, a portion of the bile duct, and sometimes part of the stomach. The surgeon then reconstructs the digestive tract by reconnecting the remaining pancreas, bile duct, and stomach to the small intestine. This is typically performed for tumors in the pancreatic head or surrounding structures.