pancreatectomy /pan′krē·ətek″təmē/ [Gk, pan + kreas + ektomē, excision] , the surgical removal of all or part of the pancreas, performed to excise a cyst or tumor, treat pancreatitis, or repair trauma. The GI tract is reconstructed, usually with an anastomosis between the pancreatic duct and the upper jejunum. Drains are left in the wound. After surgery the patient is given a low-sugar, low-fat diet. If the entire pancreas is removed, pancreatic insufficiency develops, requiring precise management of both diet and enzyme replacement therapy as well as insulin injections or the use of an insulin pump. A frequent complication is the formation of a fistula in the pancreatic bile duct, allowing digestive enzymes to contact adjacent tissues.
