Which of the following procedures involves the removal of the proximal gastrointestinal tract?

The procedure that involves the removal of the proximal gastrointestinal tract is esophagectomy. This surgical intervention entails the resection of part or all of the esophagus, which is a primary component of the proximal gastrointestinal tract. The esophagus connects the throat and the stomach, and its removal significantly alters the path of food intake.

Understanding the anatomical context helps clarify this choice. The proximal gastrointestinal tract begins with the esophagus, leading into the stomach (which is addressed in gastrectomy). An esophagectomy can be necessary for conditions such as esophageal cancer, severe inflammatory disease, or trauma.

In contrast, gastrectomy involves the removal of the stomach rather than the proximal gastrointestinal tract as a whole. A colostomy refers to creating an opening from the colon to the abdominal surface, allowing for waste elimination, but does not involve the removal of the proximal gastrointestinal tract. Pyloroplasty is a procedure that allows food to exit the stomach more easily but does not involve the removal of any parts of the gastrointestinal tract, particularly the proximal segment.