[Preservation of the pylorus in duodenopancreatectomy]

The authors present an overview of the technique of pancreatoduodenectomy with pylorus preservation. The main technical variants since the original description by Traverso and Longmire in 1978 are described. Advantages and drawbacks of the technique from a carcinologic and functional point of view are presented and discussed. Pancreatoduodenectomy with pylorus preservation appears to be the procedure of choice in most cases. However, it should be avoided in a few patients with invasion of the proximal duodenum by a periampullary carcinoma for whom a curative resection requires the addition of a gastrectomy.