pancreaticoduodenectomy /pan′krē·ətōdo̅o̅′ədənek″təmē/ [Gk, pan + kreas + L, duodeni, twelve fingers; Gk, ektomē, excision] , a surgical procedure in which the head of the pancreas, the entire duodenum, a portion of the jejunum, the distal third of the stomach, and the lower half of the common bile duct are excised, usually to relieve obstruction caused by tumors, often malignant. Continuity is reestablished among the biliary, pancreatic, and GI systems. The operation is performed to remove the periampullary masses that occur in certain forms of biliary tract cancer. Also called Whipple procedure.
