Final answer:
Pancrelipase is the treatment for fat malabsorption after a significant small bowel resection. It provides necessary enzymes, including lipases, for proper fat digestion due to the reduced function of the small intestine.
Step-by-step explanation:
After a significant small bowel resection of more than 100 cm, a patient is likely to experience fat malabsorption. The correct treatment option for this condition is a) Pancrelipase. Pancrelipase is a medication containing a mixture of digestive enzymes, including lipases, which are crucial for the digestion of fats. The majority of fat-digesting enzymes are produced in the pancreas (d), and most of the fat digestion occurs in the small intestine (c). When the small intestine is unable to effectively break down fats due to its reduced length, supplemental enzymes like pancrelipase become necessary to aid in the digestion and absorption of fats.
The gallbladder's role is to provide bile salts that are essential in the transport of lipids across the intestinal membrane, aiding micelle formation, which is vital for the absorption of digested fats. Without adequate enzyme activity due to partial bowel resection, supplementation with pancrelipase compensates for the reduced intrinsic enzyme production, thus helping to prevent malabsorption and its accompanying nutritional deficiencies and symptoms.