OPS-Code 5-524.1:

The head of your pancreas and your duodenum were surgically removed.

Such operations typically also involve the removal of the gallbladder, part of the bile ducts, part of the stomach and the lymph nodes.

The pancreas is located in the upper abdomen. It regulates the sugar content in the blood and forms substances for digestion, for example. The pancreas is made up of 3 parts: the head, the body and the tail. The head of the pancreas is right next to the first part of the small intestine. The body of the pancreas sits in front of the aorta. Other important blood vessels run along the body of the pancreas. The tail of the pancreas sits to the left of the abdomen next to the spleen.

The first part of the small intestine is also called the duodenum. This part is directly connected to the stomach and the lower part of the small intestine. The small intestine is lined with mucous membrane. The gallbladder is in the top right part of the abdomen below the liver. The liver produces bile. The bile flows through bile ducts to the gallbladder and is stored there. When needed, the bile flows through another bile duct to the intestine. There, the bile helps to digest fats. The lymph nodes are small bean-shaped objects. They are found throughout the body. Lymph nodes filter the tissue fluid. They are part of the defense system.