Keyhole surgery
Laparoscopic gastrectomy
Keyhole removal of part or all of the stomach for cancer, with clearance of the surrounding lymph nodes.
In plain language
What this operation is
A gastrectomy removes the stomach — either the affected portion (subtotal) or the whole organ (total), depending on where the tumour sits and how far it extends.
The lymph nodes around the stomach are removed with it. How thoroughly that clearance is done is a defining part of stomach cancer surgery, because it determines both the completeness of the operation and the accuracy of the final staging.
Once the stomach is removed, the food pipe or the remaining stomach is joined to the small intestine so that eating is possible again.
Who it is for
When this operation is advised
- Stomach cancer confirmed on endoscopy and biopsy
- Some large or high-risk gastrointestinal stromal tumours
- Selected cases after chemotherapy given before surgery
And when it is not. Whether keyhole is appropriate depends on the tumour’s size, position and stage. Where open surgery gives safer access, that is what is recommended.
How it works
From assessment to follow-up
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01
Diagnosis and staging
Endoscopy with biopsy, then CT and sometimes further imaging. Staging comes before any surgical plan.
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02
Treatment sequence
For many stomach cancers chemotherapy is given before surgery. That is decided by the staging, not by preference.
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03
The operation
Under general anaesthesia. The stomach and lymph nodes are removed, and the digestive tract is reconnected.
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04
Nutrition and follow-up
Dietitian input, a staged return to eating, and long-term follow-up including nutritional monitoring.
Afterwards
What recovery involves
Recovery differs between patients. What follows is what usually happens — your own timeframe is given at discharge, based on the operation you actually had.
- Eating restarts in stages — liquids, then soft food, then small frequent meals.
- Smaller, more frequent meals are usually needed long term, particularly after a total gastrectomy.
- Vitamin and mineral levels, including B12, are monitored after the operation and may need supplementing.
- Weight often falls initially, and dietitian support is part of the plan rather than an afterthought.
When to go to hospital instead
Vomiting blood, black stools, severe abdominal pain or fever needs hospital assessment rather than a chamber appointment.
Common questions
Questions patients ask
Anything not covered here can be answered at the consultation.
01 Can I eat normally after my stomach is removed?
You can eat, but the pattern changes. Smaller, more frequent meals are usually needed, especially after a total gastrectomy, because the reservoir function of the stomach is reduced or gone. Dietitian support is part of the treatment.
Eating02 Why are lymph nodes removed as well?
Stomach cancer spreads first to the nodes around the stomach. Removing them clears possible disease and lets the pathologist establish the true stage, which determines whether further treatment is advised.
Cancer surgery03 Will I need vitamin injections afterwards?
Possibly. Removing the stomach can affect absorption of vitamin B12 and other nutrients, so levels are monitored and supplemented where needed. This is planned as part of follow-up.
Nutrition04 পাকস্থলীর অপারেশনের পর কী খাওয়া যাবে?
শুরুতে তরল, এরপর নরম খাবার, তারপর অল্প অল্প করে বারবার খাওয়ার নিয়মে যেতে হয়। একবারে বেশি খাওয়া যায় না। পুষ্টিবিদের পরামর্শ চিকিৎসারই অংশ, এবং ছাড়পত্রের সময় লিখিত নির্দেশনা দেওয়া হয়।
খাদ্যNext step
Bring your reports to a consultation
Often one visit is enough to know whether an operation is needed at all.