Dear Editor,

We thank doctor Pran et al. for their interest and very interesting comments regarding our article “Surgical Anatomy of the Superior Mesenteric Vessels Related to Pancreaticoduodenectomy: a Systematic review and Meta-Analysis”.1

As doctor Pran et al. commented, the posterosuperior pancreaticoduodenal vein (PSPDV) was indeed termed the vein of Belcher by Professor John Cameron, the well-known pioneer of pancreatic surgery from John Hopkins Hospital. Professor Cameron found the PSPDV to look like his assistant, “short, fat, and always in the way,” Kenneth Belcher, hence the name. Kenneth Belcher was a personal assistant in the pancreatic service from John Hopkins and scrubbed with Professor Cameron in most of the Whipple’s he performed throughout his career.2,3 Although we are full of gratitude for the great minds of our surgical ancestors and really enjoy the history of surgery, we stand for worldwide standardization of the anatomy terms with impact in modern surgery.1,4

We agree about the importance of the PSPDV as an anatomical landmark during portal vein surgical dissection. On the other hand, during pancreaticoduodenectomy, we try to maintain the venous drainage of the surgical specimen after transection of the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery, to prevent specimen congestion, oozing and a bloody surgical field.5

In conclusion, we fully agree with the comments made by Pran et al., who highlighted the importance of the meticulous surgical dissection and transection of the PSPDV.