[Total pancreatectomy: renaissance of a surgical procedure]

Permanent reduction of morbidity and death in centers for pancreatic surgery has led to a change in the indication for total pancreatectomy from rescue pancreatectomy for complications of pancreatic surgery increasingly to elective surgery, especially in the management of advanced intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms. We discuss the indication for oncologic total pancreatectomy, rescue pancreatectomy, and removal of the whole pancreas for chronic pancreatitis. Furthermore we describe technical and metabolic aspects following total pancreatectomy.