Based on embryologic evidence that the pancreas is formed by the fusion of the ventral and dorsal pancreatic anlagen, a study was undertaken to determine whether either of these two pancreatic segments could be resected separately. As it was concluded that this was possible, the author used this surgical approach to excise the dorsal pancreatic head in a patient with pancreatic divisum. The operative procedures of this ventral pancreatectomy are discussed.
Key words pancreatectomy - pancreatoduodenectomy - ventral pancreas - dorsal pancreas