How a gastrectomy is performed
There are 4 main types of gastrectomy, depending on which part of your stomach needs to be removed:
- total gastrectomy – the whole stomach is removed
- partial gastrectomy – the lower part of the stomach is removed
- sleeve gastrectomy – the left side of the stomach is removed
- oesophagogastrectomy – the top part of the stomach and part of the oesophagus (gullet), the tube connecting your throat to your stomach, is removed
The top of the stomach is connected to the gullet, the bottom of the stomach to the first part of the small intestine (duodenum), and the gullet to either the small intestine or the remaining section of stomach. This means you will still have a working digestive system, although it won't function as well as it did before.
All types of gastrectomy are carried out under general anaesthetic, so you'll be asleep during the operation.
Techniques for gastrectomy
Two different techniques can be used to carry out a gastrectomy:
- open gastrectomy – where a large cut is made in your stomach or chest
- keyhole surgery (laparoscopic gastrectomy) – where several smaller cuts are made and special surgical instruments are used
People who have keyhole surgery usually recover faster and have less pain after the procedure than those who have an open gastrectomy. You may also be able to leave hospital a little sooner.
Complication rates after keyhole surgery are similar to those for open gastrectomies.
Open gastrectomies are usually more effective in treating advanced stomach cancer than keyhole surgery is. This is because it's usually easier to remove affected lymph nodes (small glands that are part of the immune system) during an open gastrectomy.
Before you decide which procedure to have, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both with your surgeon.
Introduction 