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Gastrectomy Surgery
Relevant information about Gastrectomy Surgery.
- What does the surgery consist on
A gastrectomy consists on a partial or complete removal of the stomach of the patient. There are two main types of gastrectomies, the first one includes those patients who need a total gastrectomy (when the complete organ is removed), the second type is called a partial gastrectomy and as it name says, only a portion of the stomach is removed.
- Which problem does the surgery solve
Gastrectomy is used in severe cases, for example in patients that have stomach cancer. Other cases where this surgery is performed are, for treating obesity, stomach ulcers and benign tumors. Going under a gastrectomy does not imply losing the ability of the body to digest food or liquids. In spite of there will be changes related to diet, that should be done by the patient, people who have gone under this type of surgery assure to have recovered their health and wellness.
- How is the surgery performed
First of all the surgeon will inject general anesthesia to the patient in order to numb his/her entire body. Once the anesthesia has made its effect and the patient is sedated, a nasogastric tube (a thin tube that goes from the nose to the stomach) is put in the body´s of the patient; this tube is used to drain fluids from the stomach during and after the procedure. The professional will clean the abdomen of the patient with an antiseptic solution. Once the area has been cleaned, he/she will make a large incision, in a total gastrectomy clamps are placed on the end of the esophagus and the end of the small intestine. After this, the stomach is removed and the esophagus is reconnected to the small intestine. Finally the abdomen will be sutured by the surgeons. The nasogastric tube will be removed during the postoperative period, a few hours after the operation.
- Surgery Length: A gastrectomy is estimated to last from one to three hours. It is common that he patient will have a pre-operative interview with a specialized anesthesiologist who will ask questions to the patient in order to find out if he/she should need a determinate medication. During the operation, surgeons will use general anesthesia, which assures that the patient will be completely numb during the procedure. The majority of the patients stay from seven to ten days in the hospital in order to have a complete and perfect recovery.
- How is the post surgery process
When the operation has finished, the patient will be taken to a private room where he/she will be able to rest. A nurse will be in charge of checking if the evolution of the patient is correct. The nurse will also take care of your bandages, which must be clean and dry in order not to be victim of an infection. The nasogastric tube will be used to keep the stomach empty. When the functions of bowel and stomach return to normal, the tube will be eliminated; this happens generally after two or three days from the operation. If the patient presents discomfort or pain around the wound (which is common in most of the cases), the doctor will prescribe specific medication in order to avoid the pain. Normal activities can be resumed as soon as the patient feels he/she is available to start driving, walking, working, etc. It is important not to do exercise that implies using a lot of strength. If the patient practices any sport, it should be resumed after two months past the operation. The patient must be sure that he/she is not taking any narcotic medications for pain, because they could affect their driving. Wounds are healed as soon as the surgical procedure finishes, scars will disappear after three months from the operation. However there is always the possibility of having a little scar that will be less visible over the time. It is possible after a gastrectomy for the patient to need supplement vitamins because the stomach is responsible for absorbing essential nutrients from food.
The main and common risks are: bleeding, infection and a possible adverse reaction to the anesthesia. To avoid this, it is important to have meetings with the doctor in order to discover if the patient is allergic to a determinate substance. Infection will be always avoided by taking cleanness measures. Cleanness measures include: taking regular showers, changing bandages and keeping them dry, taking all the medication prescript by the doctor, such as antibiotics, which will be responsible for preventing an infection, among others. It is important for the patient to be aware of some symptoms that could appear after the operation. If the patient has fever it is important to call immediately the doctor or the hospital. Others symptoms could be: redness or swelling around the incision, the incision is warm to the touch and finally, the patient expresses a worsening pain.
Every patient that has experienced this surgery can assure that his/her life has changed significantly. Their way of life, and the solution of their health problem finally have been solved by gastrectomy. Gastrectomy allows many persons to finish with their troubles and start a new way of life more healthy and vigorous.
- What does the surgery not do
The surgery will not replace the stomach by using a foreign body. Gastrectomy has nothing to do with implants, and it is not an aesthetic surgery. It could be consider aesthetic related to the fact that it can solve problems connected with obesity; however the problems that gastrectomy solves are completely oriented to the wellbeing of the patient and the correct working of his/her entire body. By experiencing a gastrectomy it is for sure that the patient will notice improvements in many fields of his/her life; first of all he/she will feel more fit and healthy, and it is probable that he/she will be the main character of a transformation that will give several benefits to his/her life.
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