【Abstract】 Objective To investigate the origin, prevention and treatment of postoperative complications and death rate after pancreaticoduodenectomy （PD）. Methods Retrospective study on the clinical materials of complications and death rate was done on 106 cases of PD performed in our hospital during July 1985 to December 2002. Results In this group, 37 cases (34.91%) had postoperative complications, and the incidence rate of severe complications was 19.81% (21/106), the death rate was 10.38% (11/106). Compared between the two groups with preoperative bilirubin gt;342 μmol/L and ≤342 μmol/L, the incidence of total complications increased evidently (P＜0.05), and the bleeding amount，infusion amount and operation time in those with complications or dead ones were evidently higher than those without complications (P＜0.05). Conclusion The safty and resectability of PD has improved evidently in recent years but good skills, careful operation, the experience of the operatior and careful perioperative treatment and nursing are of crucial importance to reduce the complications and death rate.