The technique of pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) has evolved. Previously, non-resectability was determined by involvement of the portal vein-superior mesenteric vein. Because venous resection can be achieved safely and with greater awareness of the prognostic significance of the status of the posteromedial resection margin, non-resectability is now determined by involvement of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). This change, with a need for early determination of resectability before an irreversible step, has promoted the development of an 'artery-first' approach. The aim of this study was to review, and illustrate, this approach.An electronic search was performed on MEDLINE, Embase and PubMed databases from 1960 to 2011 using both medical subject headings and truncated word searches to identify all published articles that related to this topic.The search revealed six different surgical approaches that can be considered as 'artery first'. These involved approaching the SMA from the retroperitoneum (posterior approach), the uncinate process (medial uncinate approach), the infracolic region medial to the duodenojejunal flexure (inferior infracolic or mesenteric approach), the infracolic retroperitoneum lateral to the duodenojenunal flexure (left posterior approach), the supracolic region (inferior supracolic approach) and through the lesser sac (superior approach).The six approaches described provide a range of options for the early determination of arterial involvement, depending on the location and size of the tumour, and before the 'point of no return'. Whether these approaches will achieve an increase in the proportion of patients with negative margins, improve locoregional control and increase long-term survival has yet to be determined.Copyright © 2012 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

In 141 patients with chronic pancreatitis and an inflammatory enlargement of the head of the pancreas, a duodenum-preserving resection of the head of the pancreas was performed within a 16-year period. The hospital mortality was 0.7%; the late mortality was 5%. Seventy-seven percent of the patients were completely free of abdominal pain; 67% returned to their former occupation. After a follow-up period of 3.6 years, glucose metabolism was unchanged in 81.7% of the patients, in 10.1% it deteriorated, and in 8.3% it improved permanently. In patients with severe chronic pancreatitis and an inflammatory mass in the head of the pancreas, a duodenum-preserving resection of the head of the pancreas is an alternative procedure to the Whipple operation. The surgical technique of the duodenum-preserving resection includes 2 major steps: first, subtotal resection of the head of the pancreas conserving the duodenum; second, restitution of the exocrine pancreatic secretory flow from the body and tail of the pancreas by using the first jejunal loop as an interposition. In comparison to the Whipple procedure, the duodenum-preserving resection of the head of the pancreas in chronic pancreatitis spares the patient a gastric resection, a duodenectomy, and a common bile duct resection. With respect to long-lasting pain relief and preservation of the endocrine function of the pancreas, duodenum-preserving resection of the head is a highly effective surgical procedure with a low early and late morbidity and mortality due to the limited surgical resection.

Computer-assisted surgery is becoming essential in modern medicine to accurately plan, guide, and perform surgeries. Similarly, Digital Twin technology is expected to be instrumental in the future of surgery, owing to its capacity to virtually replicate patient-specific interventions whilst providing real-time updates to clinicians. This perspective introduces the term Digital Twin-Assisted Surgery and discusses its potential to improve surgical precision and outcome, along with key challenges for successful clinical translation.© 2025. The Author(s).