Pancreatoduodenectomy - Preventing Complications

Increased awareness of periampullary & pancreatic head cancers, and the accompanying improved outcomes following pancreatoduodenectomy (PD), has possibly led to an increase in patients seeking treatment for the same. While there has definitely been a reduction in morbidity rates following PD in the last few decades, this decline has not mirrored the drastic fall in mortality. Amongst the foremost in the factors responsible for this reduction in mortality is the standardization of surgical technique and development of dedicated teams to manage all aspects of this demanding procedure. This review intends to provide the reader with an overview of major complications following this major surgery and measures to prevent them based on the authors’ experience.