Surgical principles for pancreatic cancer: Regional total and subtotal pancreatectomy

During the period 1972–1980, regional pancreatectomy has been performed in 40 patients: 36 had periampullary or pancreatic cancer, and 4 patients had benign disease. The 30-day postoperative mortality rate is 15% (6/40) overall, being 7% for the regional total pancreatectomy Type I, 29% for Type II, and 50% for regional subtotal Type I. Of the 30 patients with cancer who survived the operation, 33% are currently alive and 27% have died of other causes with no evidence of recurrent disease. An analysis of treatment failures in the remaining 12 patients (40%) who died of disease is presented.