Background: s/Aims: Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) remains a significant complication following pancreatoduodenectomy (PD). It has been hypothesized that single loop (SL) reconstruction may increase the risk of POPF, leading to the proposal of double-loop (DL) reconstruction. In this approach, the pancreatic duct is connected to an isolated loop of bowel in a Roux-en-Y configuration. Methods: We conducted a retrospective multicenter study to compare various types of reconstruction after PD, analyzing data from 1,502 patients who underwent open, laparoscopic, or robotic PD across 28 centers worldwide. Propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to enhance comparability. Results: The overall rate of POPF was 34.89%, with a grade C POPF rate of 4.26%. The type of reconstruction (SL vs. DL) did not significantly impact the rates of POPF or grade C POPF, both before and after PSM. The rate of delayed gastric emptying (DGE) was 20.71%, and patients with DL reconstruction had a lower incidence of DGE both before and after PSM. Conclusions Our study found no significant differences in the risk of POPF between SL and DL reconstruction. However, DL reconstruction is associated with a reduced risk of DGE, suggesting it may be a preferable option following open PD.

The history of liver surgery is a tale of progressive resolution of issues presenting one after another from ancient times to the present days when dealing with liver ailments. The perfect knowledge of human liver anatomy and physiology and the development of a proper liver resective surgery require time and huge efforts and, mostly, the study and research of giants of their own times, whose names are forever associated with anatomical landmarks, thorough descriptions, and surgical approaches. The control of parenchymal bleeding after trauma and during resection is the second issue that surgeons have to resolve. A good knowledge of intra and extrahepatic vascular anatomy is a necessary condition to develop techniques of vascular control, paving the way to liver transplantation. Last but not least, the issue of residual liver function after resection requires advanced techniques of volume redistribution through redirection of blood inflow. These are the same problems any young surgeon would face when approaching liver surgery for the first time. Therefore, obtaining a wide picture of historical evolution of liver surgery could be a great starting point to serve as an example and a guide.

The pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) technique is yet to be standardized. One of the most difficult passages in PD is the mobilization of the second, third, and fourth parts of the duodenum. This maneuver is classically performed from the supramesocolic space after the division of the gastrocolic ligament, but traction on the transverse mesocolon and the superior mesenteric pedicle can cause bleeding from the venous and arterial branches of the pancreatic head and uncinate process. We hereby describe a technique to access and mobilize the distal duodenum and proximal jejunum (D2 to J1) through the duodenal window and the Treitz’s foramen, performing an almost complete Kocher’s maneuver before opening the gastrocolic ligament and mobilizing the hepatic flexure. The anatomical basis and the surgical technique of the duodenal-window-first PD are discussed. The duodenal-window-first approach is a standardizable step of PD that allows an easy and safe mobilization of D2 to J1. This technique has been applied to 15 cases of PD, both open and robotic, with no specific morbidity. Therefore, we propose the adoption of the duodenal-window-first technique as a routine standardized step of PD.