[Whipple's operation and tumors of Oddi's sphincter. A series of 17 cases]

Seventeen patients underwent a Whipple operation for carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater. The operative mortality was 11.7% (2/17). Anastomotic dehiscence at the level of the pancreatico-jejunostomy occurred three times and was responsible for one death. The actuarial five years survival rate was 51%. The duodenopancreatectomy remains the operation of choice for ampullary malignancy.