A gastrectomy procedure is performed to treat recurrent ulcer disease, to remove a chronic gastric ulcer, to stop hemorrhage in a perforated ulcer, or to remove cancer.
Surgery
Depending on the condition being treated, a gastrectomy may be performed with an incision or using minimally-invasive techniques. If the surgery is being perfomed laparoscopically, the surgeon uses a thin, telescope-like instrument called a laparoscope, which is inserted through a small incision at the belly button. The laparoscope is connected to a tiny video camera which projects a view of the operative site onto video monitors located in the operating room. The abdomen is inflated with carbon dioxide to allow your surgeon a better view of the operative area. Two or three additional small incisions are made near the laparoscope through which the surgeon inserts specialized surgical instruments. The surgeon uses these instruments to remove all or a portion of the stomach and to attach any remaining portion of the stomach to the small intestine.
Following the procedure, the small incisions are closed with sutures and covered with surgical tape. After a few months, they are barely visible.
If the condition requires open surgery, the abdomen incision will be longer and may require a slightly longer hospital stay.
