Allen Oldfather Whipple is a name that will be forever eponymously associated with pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic cancer. This paper presents the history behind this procedure.

BACKGROUND Pancreaticoduodenectomy is the procedure of choice for tumors of the head of the pancreas and periampulla. Despite advances in surgical technique and postoperative care, the procedure continues to carry a high morbidity rate. One of the most common morbidities is delayed gastric emptying with rates of 15%-40%. Following two prolonged cases of delayed gastric emptying, we altered our ...

HYPOTHESIS Pancreatic fistula (PF), a common and potentially lethal complication of pancreaticoduodenectomy, can be managed nonoperatively in most cases. DESIGN Retrospective case series. SETTING Major academic medical and pancreatic surgery center. PATIENTS A total of 437 consecutive patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for various diagnoses between January 1, 1988, and August ...