Gastrectomy Overview
Learn About Gastrectomy
Gastrectomy is surgery to remove part or all of the stomach.
- If only part of the stomach is removed, it is called partial gastrectomy
- If the whole stomach is removed, it is called total gastrectomy
Surgery - stomach removal; Gastrectomy - total; Gastrectomy - partial; Stomach cancer - gastrectomy
The surgery is done while you are under general anesthesia (asleep and pain free). The surgeon makes a cut in the abdomen and removes all or part of the stomach, depending on the reason for the procedure.
Depending on what part of the stomach was removed, the intestine may need to be reconnected to the remaining stomach (partial gastrectomy) or to the esophagus (total gastrectomy).
Some surgeons can also do this surgery using a laparoscope. A laparoscope has a tiny camera that is inserted into your belly through a small cut. Video from the camera will appear on a monitor in the operating room. The surgeon views the monitor to do the surgery. When done this way, the surgery, which is called laparoscopy, is done with a few small surgical cuts. The advantages of this surgery are a faster recovery, less pain, and only a few small cuts.
This surgery is used to treat stomach problems such as:
- Bleeding
- Inflammation
- Cancer
- Polyps (growth on the lining of the stomach)
Risks for anesthesia and surgery in general include:
- Reactions to medicines or breathing problems
- Bleeding, blood clots, heart problems. or infection
Risks for this surgery include:
- Leaking from the connection to the intestine which can cause infection or abscess
- Narrowing of the connection to the intestine, causing blockage
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dumping syndrome, (when food moves too rapidly from the stomach to the duodenum)
- Persistent diarrhea
If you are a smoker, you should stop smoking several weeks before surgery and not start smoking again after surgery. Smoking slows recovery and increases the risk of problems. Tell your surgeon or health care provider if you need help quitting.
Tell your surgeon or nurse if:
- You are or could be pregnant
- You are taking any medicines, including medicines, supplements, or herbs you bought without a prescription
During the week before your surgery:
- You may be asked to temporarily stop taking medicines that keep your blood from clotting. These medicines are called blood thinners. This includes over-the-counter medicines and supplements such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), and vitamin E. Many prescription medicines are also blood thinners.
- Ask your surgeon which medicines you should still take on the day of surgery.
On the day of surgery:
- Follow instructions about when to stop eating and drinking.
- Take the medicines your surgeon told you to take with a small sip of water.
- Arrive at the hospital on time.
You may stay in hospital for 6 to10 days.
After surgery, there may be a tube in your nose which will help keep your stomach empty. It is removed as soon as your bowels are working well.
Most people have pain from the surgery. You may receive a single medicine or a combination of medicines to control your pain. Tell your surgeon when you are having pain and if the medicines you are receiving control your pain.
How well you do after surgery depends on the reason for the surgery and your condition.
Ask your surgeon if there are any activities you shouldn't do after you go home. It may take several weeks for you to recover fully. While you are taking narcotic pain medicines, you should not drive.
University Professional Services
Andrea Stroud is a General Surgeon and a Thoracic Surgeon in Portland, Oregon. Dr. Stroud has been practicing medicine for over 16 years and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in Gastrectomy. Her top areas of expertise are Obesity in Children, Obesity, Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome (OHS), Sleeve Gastrectomy, and Gastrectomy. Dr. Stroud is currently accepting new patients.
The Oregon Clinic, PC
Sarah Rodriguez is a Gastroenterologist in Portland, Oregon. Dr. Rodriguez and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in Gastrectomy. Her top areas of expertise are Cholestasis, Bile Duct Obstruction, Bile Duct Stricture, Endoscopy, and Gastrectomy. Dr. Rodriguez is currently accepting new patients.
The Oregon Clinic, PC
Glenn Eisen is a Gastroenterologist in Portland, Oregon. Dr. Eisen and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in Gastrectomy. His top areas of expertise are Gastrointestinal Bleeding, Barrett Esophagus, Angiodysplasia of the Colon, Colonoscopy, and Endoscopy. Dr. Eisen is currently accepting new patients.
Summary: Obesity is a complex chronic disease that has become a major public health concern worldwide, with the prevalence of obesity increasing dramatically over the past few decades. Patients with morbid obesity pose a challenge for perioperative pain management. High ceiling analgesics-opioids have limited role due to safety concerns for patients with or without obstructive sleep apnea . Insufficient po...
Summary: The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate protein digestibility after bariatric surgery. Does protein digestibility decrease after Roux-en-Y-Gastric Bypass? Does protein digestibility decrease after Sleeve Gastrectomy surgery? Does protein digestibility effect the ability to meet protein requirements?
Published Date: September 30, 2024
Published By: Jonas DeMuro, MD, Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery with added Qualifications in Surgical Critical Care, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Antiporda M, Reavis KM. Gastrectomy. In: Delaney CP, ed. Netter's Surgical Anatomy and Approaches. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 8.
Mahvi DA, Mahvi DM. Stomach. In: Townsend CM Jr, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 21st ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2022:chap 49.