What is Gastrectomy?
A gastrectomy is surgery to remove part or all of the stomach. Gastrectomy is the preferred treatment for cancers of the stomach. During surgery, the tumor, nearby lymph nodes and a portion of the stomach may be removed.
Who are candidates for Gastrectomy?
Most commonly gastrectomy is performed in order to treat a bleeding ulcer or to remove non-cancerous or cancerous tumors.
What is the Gastrectomy recovery process?
Gastrectomy is performed under general anesthesia and you can expect to be in the hospital for five to seven days depending on your situation.
You will likely experience some pain and discomfort after surgery that can be treated with medication. You may also experience, heartburn and vitamin deficiencies after your surgery and your doctor will prescribe vitamin supplements and other medications.
If you have a portion of your stomach removed, you may need to alter your eating patterns to adjust to the new size of your stomach.
What are alternatives to Gastrectomy?
Alternative treatments depend on the condition being treated. For stomach ulcers, medications such as stomach acid blocking drugs may be prescribed.