New technique of total pancreatectomy without duodenectomy in the dog

Total pancreatectomy without duodenectomy is described in the dog. The technique is based on the recognition of an anatomic cutting line between the two peritoneal layers overlying the duodenopancreas in the dog. This allows selective suppression of the pancreatic vascular supply and anatomic dissection between the pancreas and the duodenum. Complete pancreatectomy is indicated by hyperglycemia, absence of detectable serum insulin, abnormal glucose tolerance tests and short survival time due to metabolic conditions. No surgical complication was noted, and this reliable model is proposed for experimental pancreatic transplantation studies.