Health Encyclopedia

Gastrectomy

Definition

Gastrectomy is surgery to remove part or all of the stomach.

Description

The surgery is done while you are under general anesthesia (unconscious 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 operation. The intestine is then re-connected to the remaining stomach (partial gastrectomy) or to the esophagus (total gastrectomy). After controlling the blood supply, the opening is closed with stitches.

Indications

Gastrectomy is used to treat bleeding, inflammation, non-cancerous tumors, or cancer.

Risks

Risks for any anesthesia include:

Reactions to medications
Problems breathing

Risks for any surgery include:

Bleeding
Infection

Expectations after surgery

How well a patient does after surgery depends on the underlying condition.

Review Date:10/16/2006
Reviewed By:J.A. Lee, M.D., Assistant Professor of Surgery, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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