Gastrectomy

Posted On: 04-22-2015

What is Gastrectomy?

Gastrectomy is the removal of all or part of the stomach. After the removal, the remaining portion is reconnected to the small intestine.

Also Known As:

Stomach surgery

Conditions Treated with Gastrectomy:

Gastrectomy may be utilized to treat stomach cancer, gastric ulcers, noncancerous polyps, stomach bleeding and a hole in the stomach wall.

Non-Surgical or Other Surgical Alternatives to Gastrectomy:

Non-surgical alternatives to gastrectomy depend on the condition that is being treated. For example, stomach ulcers may be treated with stomach acid blocking medications. A surgical alternative to the procedure is laparoscopic (minimally invasive) gastrectomy.

Anesthesia with Gastrectomy:

Gastrectomy is performed with general anesthesia, which means that the patient is asleep and completely unaware during the procedure.

Potential Complications from Gastrectomy:

Possible risks of gastrectomy include infection, bleeding and a negative reaction to the anesthesia that is used. Other potential complications include blood clots, dumping syndrome, malabsorption, an incisional hernia, pernicious anemia and injury to nearby organs or tissue. Some patients experience a return of stomach cancer following the procedure.

Prognosis after Gastrectomy:

Gastrectomy has a higher than normal rate of surgical complications and a mortality rate of seven to 10 percent.

Recovery from Gastrectomy:

The hospital stay following gastrectomy can be seven to 10 days. The total recovery time for the procedure ranges anywhere from several weeks to several months.