Pancreaticoduodenectomy in a patient with severe portal hypertension: the role of preoperative TIPS.

The complication rate for Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is 40-50% in most published series and mortality can raise up to 4-5% even in high-volume centers. Severe portal hypertension secondary to liver disease is associated to high perioperative mortality and therefore is considered a contraindication for PD. No standardized management exists for surgically resectable patients with periampullary cancer and severe portal hypertension.