Distal pancreatectomy: Your pancreas’ has body and tail at its distal portion (“distal” implies distant or the farthest section from the centre). The tail of your pancreas is removed during a distal pancreatectomy, as well as occasionally the body if that is also implicated. Your spleen and pancreas share a close relationship. The spleen and pancreatic tail are frequently removed during a distal pancreatectomy.

Central pancreatectomy:  During a central pancreatectomy, just the pancreatic body is removed; the head and tail remain in place. It can assist maintain more of your pancreatic function and avoid the need for further organ removal when this is feasible.

Pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple procedure):. The head of your pancreas and the portion of your small intestine that attaches to it are removed during a pancreaticoduodenectomy (your duodenum). Your bile duct and gallbladder are also removed because the common bile duct also passes through the head of your pancreas and empties into your duodenum. Reattaching your surviving pancreas, bile duct, and stomach to your remaining small intestine allows digestion to resume properly after the Whipple procedure.

Full pancreatectomy: When the entire pancreas is infected / dead or when there is not enough healthy tissue to retain it, a total pancreatectomy removes the entire organ. Your entire pancreas must be removed, along with numerous other nearby organs, blood arteries, and lymph nodes. That often includes the lower portion of your stomach, the duodenum, the gallbladder, and the spleen. The procedure next rejoins your small intestine to your stomach and bile duct.

The majority of pancreatectomies are done via open surgery, which provides quick access to numerous organs at once. Certain pancreatectomies might be less invasive techniques like laparoscopic or robotic surgery.