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

Description

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 is 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.

Why the Procedure Is Performed

This surgery is used to treat stomach problems such as:

• Bleeding
• Inflammation
• Cancer

  Cancer

  Stomach cancer is cancer that starts in the stomach.

  

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• Polyps (growth on the lining of the stomach)

Risks

Risks for anesthesia and surgery in general include:

• Reactions to medicines or breathing problems

  Breathing problems

  Breathing difficulty may involve:Difficult breathing Uncomfortable breathingFeeling like you are not getting enough air

  

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• Bleeding, blood clots, or infection

  Bleeding

  Bleeding is the loss of blood. Bleeding may be:Inside the body (internal)Outside the body (external)Bleeding may occur:Inside the body when blood le...

  

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  Blood clots

  Blood clots are clumps that occur when blood hardens from a liquid to a solid. A blood clot that forms inside one of your veins or arteries is calle...

  

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Risks for this surgery include:

• Leak from connection to the intestine which can cause infection or abscess

  Abscess

  An abscess is a collection of pus in any part of the body. In most cases, the area around an abscess is swollen and inflamed.

  

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• The connection to the intestine narrows, causing blockage

Before the Procedure

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 health care provider if you need help quitting.

Tell your surgeon or nurse:

• If you are or might be pregnant
• What medicines, vitamins, herbs, and other supplements you are taking, even ones you bought without a prescription

During the week before your surgery:

• You may be asked to stop taking blood thinners. These include NSAIDs (aspirin, ibuprofen), vitamin E, warfarin (Coumadin), dabigatran (Pradaxa), rivaroxaban (Xarelto), apixaban (Eliquis), and clopidogrel (Plavix).
• Ask your surgeon which drugs you should still take on the day of your surgery.
• Prepare your home for when you go home after surgery. Set up your home to make your life easier and safer when you return.

  Prepare your home

  Getting your home ready after you have been in the hospital often requires much preparation. Set up your home to make your life easier and safer when...

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On the day of your surgery:

• Follow instructions about not eating and drinking.
• Take the medicines your surgeon told you to take with a small sip of water.
• Arrive at the hospital on time.

After the Procedure

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 providers 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.