Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy procedure: Pushing the limits of laparoscopy

Whipple operation, or open pancreaticoduodenectomy, is perhaps one of the most technically challenging operations in the abdomen. The overall perioperative mortality rate is about 2% to 5% and with operative morbidity of about 25% to 45%. In the past, minimally invasive techniques were only used for laparoscopy, staging of pancreatic cancer, and palliative procedures for unresectable pancreatic cancer. Recent advances in operative techniques and instrumentation have empowered laparoscopic surgeons to perform virtually all procedures in the pancreas, including the Whipple procedure. Presented is the first case of laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy. Key words: laparoscopy, laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy