Gastrectomy (stomach removal)

A gastrectomy is a surgical procedure where part or all of the stomach is removed. This surgery is typically performed to treat conditions such as gastric (stomach) cancer, obesity, benign tumors, or other stomach-related conditions. Despite the disruption to your digestive tract, which forms an uninterrupted tube from the mouth to the anus, it’s still possible to live and eat after part or all of your stomach has been removed.

Penn Medicine is a leader in gastrectomy in the southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey regions. Our experienced gastrointestinal (GI) team helps you understand the procedure and make the right treatment decisions to give you the best results.

Your Penn Medicine provider may recommend a gastrectomy if you have one of the following conditions:

• Stomach cancer
• Gastrointestinal stromal tumors
• Gastrointestinal stromal tumor Noncancerous stomach tumors
• Inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis)
• Obesity
• Peptic ulcer disease that hasn’t responded to other treatment

Before your gastrectomy surgery, your doctor will explain the procedure and allow time for your questions. Your care team will go over your medications, discuss your health history, and guide you on how to prepare for the surgery.

Here’s what you can expect on the day of your procedure:

• You’ll be given anesthesia with sedation, which puts you to sleep and ensures that you don’t feel pain during the surgery.
• Your provider will insert a catheter to collect urine during the surgery and recovery. They may also temporarily place a nasogastric tube through your nose and into your stomach or small intestine. This tube allows for the regular removal of stomach fluids, which helps prevent nausea, and can be used to give medication and nutrients after surgery.
• If you’re having open surgery, your surgeon will make one long incision and remove all or part of your stomach.
• If you’re having a laparoscopic gastrectomy, your surgeon will make several small incisions. Then they’ll use a small lighted camera and surgical tools to remove all or part of your stomach.
• Once the stomach is partially or fully removed, your surgeon will reconstruct your GI tract so your digestive system continues to function properly. If only part of your stomach is removed, the small intestine will be connected to the remaining portion of the stomach. If the entire stomach is removed, the small intestine will be attached directly to the esophagus.
• Your surgeon may insert a feeding tube into your stomach or small intestine to assist with nutrition while you recover.
• Following the surgery, our care team will monitor you closely as you wake up from anesthesia, and pain medication will be given as prescribed by your doctor.

Stomach removal recovery can vary from person to person depending on the type of surgery you had. Both partial and total gastrectomies require about two months to heal, and it can take another few months to return to your normal energy level.

After partial and total gastrectomy, you can’t eat anything within the first few days after surgery. You’ll get nourishment through an IV or feeding tube. This gives your digestive tract time to heal. Later, you’ll progress to a liquid diet, then a soft food diet until your doctor approves solid foods. However, after both a partial and total stomach removal, you’ll need to adjust your diet to ensure you’re getting enough nutrients.

If you have a partial gastrectomy, you can expect to spend up to five days recovering in the hospital. You’ll likely lose weight in the first few months after surgery. You can usually resume your normal eating schedule within six months.

If you have a total gastrectomy, you’ll spend about six to 10 days in the hospital recovering. Our dedicated care team, including a registered dietitian, will work closely with you for several months post-surgery to support your recovery. You may experience an overall weight loss of 15 to 20 pounds, but we’ll ensure you receive adequate nutrition and recover well. At Penn Medicine, we’re committed to helping you navigate this transition effectively.

Penn Medicine’s Gastrointestinal Surgery Program specializes in solving complex problems of the digestive tract. We tackle routine and rare problems with an exceptional level of expertise. Removal of part or all of the stomach requires significant lifestyle changes. Your experienced care team will prepare you for surgery and any day-to-day changes through counseling and nutrition education.

Your care also includes:

• Team approach: In our regular GI tumor board meetings, specialists in several disciplines from surgeons to dieticians to gastroenterologists collaborate to create individualized, effective treatment plans informed by the latest research for those receiving cancer treatment.
• Experienced surgeons: You receive care from surgeons who specialize in gastrectomies. This means you’re in the hands of a surgery team that has seen it all—and can customize care to your specific needs.
• Minimally invasive options: We offer laparoscopic-assisted partial and total gastrectomies. These procedures require smaller incisions and often lead to a quicker return to daily activities.