Which surgery do you think would have the most profound effect on digestion: gastrectomy, pancreatectomy, or cholecystectomy?

 

Gastrectomy is the surgical removal of the stomach. The stomach, located in the abdominopelvic region, plays the major role in digestion and storage of food. The stomach secrets acids and enzymes that digest food. The stomach muscles contract periodically, churning food to enhance digestion. Removal of the stomach leads to lowered tolerance to large meals, rapid emptying of unchurned food into the small intestines, diarrhea and abdominal cramps.

A pancreatectomy is the surgical removal of part or all of the pancreas usually to treat cancer. You can survive well without a pancreas or part of the pancreas because secretions of the pancreas such as insulin can be administered to a person.

Cholecystectomy is the surgical removal of the gallbladder due to gall stones causing pain or infection. After cholecystectomy, the liver will still make enough bile. Instead of bile being stored, it will drip continuously into the digestive system.