It slso called a pancreaticoduodenectomy, which is generally the removal of the gallbladder, common bile duct, part of the duodenum, and the head of the pancreas.This operation was first described by .Dr. Alan O. Whipple of New York Memorial Hospital (now called Memorial Sloan-Kettering). Since that time, there have been many modifications and improvements of the procedure. There is a detailed account of the operative mortality rates and long-term survival rates in the Surgical Treatment and Research section of this site.
There are several variations of "the Whipple" currently practiced:
Standard Whipple with lymph node dissection
Radical Whipple with lymph node dissection
Pylorus Preserving - preserves the pylorus (where the stomach empties into the duodenum)
Classic - includes removal of 40% of the stomach
