A patient who has a total pancreatectomy might be expected to develop which of the following complications?
**Core Concept**
A total pancreatectomy involves the surgical removal of the entire pancreas, which leads to a deficiency of pancreatic enzymes and hormones. The pancreas plays a crucial role in digestion and glucose regulation, and its removal can result in significant clinical consequences.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The correct answer is related to the loss of pancreatic enzymes, particularly lipase, amylase, and trypsin, which are essential for fat, carbohydrate, and protein digestion. Without these enzymes, patients may experience malabsorption of nutrients, leading to weight loss, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal symptoms. The pancreas also produces insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin, which regulate blood glucose levels. A total pancreatectomy can lead to diabetes mellitus due to the loss of insulin production.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** Malnutrition is a possible complication, but it is not the most direct consequence of a total pancreatectomy.
**Option B:** Pancreatitis is an inflammatory condition of the pancreas, which is not directly related to the removal of the pancreas.
**Option C:** Hypocalcemia is a possible complication of parathyroid surgery, not a total pancreatectomy.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
Patients undergoing a total pancreatectomy may require lifelong pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy to manage malabsorption and nutritional deficiencies.
**Correct Answer:** C. Malnutrition.