What would happen to a patient if the pancreas is removed ?
2 Answers
sanjeetmanna | College Teacher | (Level 3) Assistant Educator
The main function of Pancrease are
Secrete juice which help in breaking down of proteins, carbohydrate and lipids.
Secretes hormones
Secretes juice that neutralises the stomach acid that passes into the small intestine.
The Islets of Langerhans cell of pancreas secrete Glucagon, Insulin, Somatostatin which got the specific function.
So removing the pancrease will lead in the deficiency of all the above functions which will lead to death of the individual.
If the stomach acid is not neutralised by pancrease then that leads to inflamation in small intestine.
If there is no insulin in the body which function to reduce blood glucose there it will lead to diabetes, then artificial insulin has to be provided of the individual may die.
Since Pancreas has both endocrine and exocrine function removal of pancreas will lead to Hormonal imbalance.
sciencesolve | Teacher | (Level 3) Educator Emeritus
Since pancreas is the gland that secretes insuline and enzymes, the patients who suffer a partial or total removal of pancreas need replacement therapy with enzymes supplements and insulin injections.
If total or distal pancreatectomy is performed, then patients develop pancreatic insufficiency and there are needed promotility agents that move the food through intestines. There is also helpful the enteral nutrition that help the food enter directly into gastrointestinal tract.
Hence, the removal of pancreas could give long term complications such that diabetes and pancreatic insufficiency or pancreatic exocrine deficiency.