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.īefore you decide which procedure to have, discuss the advantages and disadvantages with your surgeon. Open gastrectomies are usually more effective in treating advanced stomach cancer than keyhole surgery is.
You may also be able to leave hospital a little sooner.Ĭomplication rates after keyhole surgery are similar to those for open gastrectomies. People who have keyhole surgery usually recover faster and have less pain after the procedure than those who have an open gastrectomy.
If all or most of the stomach is removed, the gullet will be connected to the small intestine or the remaining section of the stomach.Īll types of gastrectomy are carried out under general anaesthetic, so you'll be asleep during the operation. The stomach connects to the oesophagus (gullet) and the top of the small intestineĪfter surgery, you'll still have a working digestive system although it will not function as well as it did before.
A gastrectomy is a medical procedure where all or part of the stomach is surgically removed.