Following which surgical procedure is pernicious anemia likely to occur?

Pernicious anemia is a type of anemia that occurs due to the inability to absorb vitamin B12, which is essential for red blood cell production. This malabsorption is commonly linked to a deficiency of intrinsic factor, a protein produced in the stomach that is necessary for the absorption of vitamin B12.

Gastrectomy, which is the surgical removal of part or all of the stomach, significantly impacts the production of intrinsic factor. After a gastrectomy, the stomach may not produce sufficient intrinsic factor, leading to impaired absorption of vitamin B12. Without adequate vitamin B12, an individual can develop pernicious anemia, resulting in symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, and neurological issues.

In contrast, the other surgical procedures listed (colectomy, colostomy, and esophagostomy) are less likely to cause pernicious anemia because they do not involve the stomach or affect intrinsic factor production directly. Colectomy pertains to removing part of the colon, colostomy involves creating an opening from the colon to the abdomen, and esophagostomy is the creation of an opening from the esophagus to the outside of the body. None of these operations directly impact the stomach's ability to produce intrinsic factor. Thus, a gast