Two-stage trauma pancreaticoduodenectomy: Delay facilitates anastomotic reconstruction

A case of a gunshot wound to the head of the pancreas and superior mesenter ic vein requiring pancreaticoduodenectomy ;is discussed. Managing such an i njury is challenging, first because of the ongoing hemorrhage and second be cause of the technical difficulty in working with a normal pancreas and bil e duct. Ln the case presented herein, enteric reconstruction was performed 72 hours after the initial surgery. A delay in reconstruction resulted in t issue changes that Facilitated enteric reconstruction. A two-stage pancreat icoduodenectomy may be considered if the surgeon is faced with an unstable patient.