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What is Gastrectomy?

A gastrectomy is a surgical procedure to remove part or all of the stomach, typically to treat stomach (gastric) cancer, ulcers, or other severe conditions. The remaining digestive tract is reconstructed to maintain function. In India, gastrectomies are performed in surgical gastroenterology or oncology departments at hospitals like Apollo, Fortis, Medanta, Tata Memorial, and AIIMS, often at affordable costs. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs is essential for patients.

Why do you need Gastrectomy?

Gastrectomy is indicated for:

  • Stomach cancer:
    • Adenocarcinoma (90% of cases; 5-year survival: 20–40% depending on stage).
    • Early-stage (T1–T2) or locally advanced (T3–T4) cancers.
    • Incidence in India: 5–10 per 100,000; higher in Northeast (e.g., Mizoram).
  • Benign conditions:
    • Peptic ulcer disease (uncontrolled bleeding, perforation; 5% of cases need surgery).
    • Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST, 1–3% of gastric tumors).
    • Severe obesity (sleeve gastrectomy, a type of partial gastrectomy).
  • Associated treatments:
    • Often preceded by neoadjuvant chemotherapy for cancer (stages II–III).
    • Lymph node dissection (D2 lymphadenectomy) to stage cancer and reduce recurrence.
  • Timing:
    • Performed in adults (average age 60–70 years for cancer); urgency depends on diagnosis (e.g., immediate for perforation).

The procedure aims to remove diseased tissue, prevent cancer spread, and restore digestive continuity, often using open or minimally invasive approaches.

Why Do Gastrectomy Costs Vary in India?

Costs range from ₹2 lakh to ₹5 lakh :

  • Procedure Type: Partial (₹2–3 lakh); total/laparoscopic (₹3–5 lakh).
  • Hospital/Location: Higher in metro cities (Apollo, Fortis: ₹3–5 lakh); lower in government hospitals (Tata Memorial, AIIMS: ₹1–2 lakh, often subsidized under Ayushman Bharat).
  • Surgeon’s Expertise: Experienced surgical gastroenterologists charge more.
  • Additional Costs: Anesthesia (₹20,000–₹40,000), ICU/hospital stay (₹10,000–₹30,000/day), pathology (₹5,000–₹10,000), medications (₹10,000–₹20,000).
  • Insurance: Often covered (medical necessity); confirm with your provider.

Gastrectomy Procedure

  • Before Surgery Evaluation:
    • Assessment:
      • Endoscopy/biopsy: Confirms cancer type, location, and extent.
      • Imaging: CT/PET scan to stage cancer and check for metastasis.
      • Blood tests: Liver function, clotting profile; nutritional status (albumin).
      • Nutritional assessment: Patients often malnourished; pre-op feeding may be needed.
    • Preparation: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (if indicated); correct anemia or electrolyte imbalances.
    • Consent: Risks, including nutritional deficiencies, are explained.
  • Surgical Techniques:
    • Gastrectomy:
      • Performed under general anesthesia, lasting 3–6 hours.
      • Types:
        • Partial gastrectomy: Distal (lower stomach) or proximal (upper stomach) removed; used for localized tumors or ulcers.
        • Total gastrectomy: Entire stomach removed; for extensive cancer or proximal tumors.
        • Sleeve gastrectomy: 75–80% of stomach removed vertically; for obesity (less common indication here).
      • Approaches:
        • Open gastrectomy: Large incision (15–25 cm) in abdomen; for advanced cancer or adhesions.
        • Laparoscopic gastrectomy: 4–5 small incisions (5–10 mm); camera and instruments used; for early-stage cancer.
      • Process:
        • Stomach resected; nearby lymph nodes removed (D2 dissection for cancer).
        • Reconstruction:
          • Partial: Remaining stomach connected to small intestine (Billroth I/II or Roux-en-Y).
          • Total: Esophagus connected to small intestine (Roux-en-Y).
        • Closure: Sutures/staples; drains placed to prevent fluid buildup.
    • Intraoperative Tools:
      • Endoscope: Visualizes stomach (if needed).
      • Staplers: Resects stomach and creates anastomosis.
      • Laparoscopic tools: For minimally invasive approach.
  • After Surgery:
    • Hospital stay: 7–10 days.
    • Care: ICU for 1–2 days; nasogastric (NG) tube for 3–5 days; feeding tube (jejunostomy) for nutrition.
    • Pain management: Moderate pain for 5–7 days; managed with epidural or IV painkillers.
    • Instructions: Avoid oral intake initially; start with liquids after 3–5 days if no leak.

Recovery After Gastrectomy

  1. Hospital Stay: 7–10 days.
  2. Post-Surgery Care:
    • Pain/Swelling: Moderate pain for 5–7 days; resolves in 2–3 weeks.
    • Nutrition: Feeding tube for 2–4 weeks; oral intake (liquids) starts at 3–5 days; soft diet by 4–6 weeks.
    • Activity: Avoid strenuous activity for 6–8 weeks; light walking within 3–5 days to prevent clots.
    • Tubes: NG tube removed in 3–5 days; jejunostomy tube removed in 4–6 weeks.
    • Monitoring: Swallow study at 5–7 days to check for leaks; vitamin B12, iron levels monitored long-term.
  3. Follow-Up:
    • Visits at 2 weeks (check healing), 1 month, and every 3 months for 2 years (cancer recurrence risk).
    • Endoscopy/CT: At 3–6 months to monitor for recurrence.

Most resume normal activities in 6–8 weeks; full recovery takes 3–6 months. Success rate: 90–95% for complete tumor removal in early stages; 5-year survival for gastric cancer varies (20–40%, depending on stage).

Risks and Complications

  • Surgical Risks:
    • Bleeding (2–5%): During surgery; may need transfusion.
    • Infection (5–10%): Wound or intra-abdominal; treated with antibiotics.
    • Anesthesia risks (<1%): Reaction to general anesthesia; rare in healthy patients.
  • Post-Surgery:
    • Anastomotic leak (3–5%): At connection site; may need reoperation or drainage.
    • Dumping syndrome (10–20%): Rapid food passage; causes nausea, diarrhea; managed with diet.
    • Malnutrition (10–15%): Vitamin B12, iron deficiency; needs supplements.
    • Bowel obstruction (1–3%): From adhesions; may need surgery.
  • Long-Term:
    • Recurrence (20–40%): Cancer return; needs regular monitoring.
    • Weight loss (10–20%): Due to reduced stomach capacity; managed with nutritional support.

Report fever, severe pain, vomiting, or inability to eat promptly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What causes the need for gastrectomy?

Stomach cancer (most common), peptic ulcer complications, GIST, or severe obesity (sleeve gastrectomy).

Can I avoid gastrectomy?

Yes, if early: Endoscopic resection for superficial cancers; surgery needed for advanced cancer or complications.

Is gastrectomy painful?

Moderate pain for 5–7 days, managed with medication; resolves in 2–3 weeks.

How soon can I resume normal activities?

Light activities: 2–3 weeks; full recovery: 3–6 months; avoid strenuous activity for 6–8 weeks.

Is gastrectomy covered by insurance in India?

Often covered (medical necessity); confirm with your provider; Ayushman Bharat often subsidizes.

Signs of complications?

Fever, severe pain, vomiting, or inability to eat.

Will I be able to eat normally after surgery?

Yes, eventually: Small, frequent meals; soft diet for 6–8 weeks; lifelong dietary adjustments.

Lifestyle changes post-surgery?

Eat smaller meals, take vitamin supplements (B12, iron), avoid high-sugar foods, and attend follow-ups.

Conclusion

Gastrectomy is a major but effective procedure for treating stomach cancer and severe benign conditions, with significant recovery time but good outcomes in early stages. India’s top hospitals (Apollo, Fortis, Tata Memorial) provide affordable care, often covered by insurance. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs helps patients approach surgery confidently. Consult a surgical gastroenterologist for personalized guidance.

Looking for Best Hospitals for Gastrectomy

Note: we are not promoting any hospitals

we are not promoting any hospitals we sourced all the details from google and hospitals website, please verify and start with your surgery here we go the list includes government, budget and superspeciality hospitals accreditation bodies are the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) and the Joint Commission International (JCI)

  • click on your city and schedule your surgery now done in good hands.
City Minimum Price (₹) Maximum Price (₹)
Agra
2,00,000
4,50,000
Ahmedabad
2,25,000
5,00,000
Ajmer
2,00,000
4,50,000
Aligarh
2,00,000
4,50,000
Allahabad
2,00,000
4,50,000
Amritsar
2,10,000
4,75,000
Aurangabad
2,10,000
4,75,000
Bangalore
2,25,000
5,00,000
Bareilly
2,00,000
4,50,000
Belgaum
2,10,000
4,75,000
Bhopal
2,10,000
4,75,000
Bhubaneswar
2,10,000
4,75,000
Bikaner
2,00,000
4,50,000
Chandigarh
2,25,000
5,00,000
Chennai
2,25,000
5,00,000
Coimbatore
2,25,000
5,00,000
Dehradun
2,10,000
4,75,000
Delhi
2,25,000
5,00,000
Dhanbad
2,00,000
4,50,000
Durgapur
2,00,000
4,50,000
Faridabad
2,25,000
5,00,000
Ghaziabad
2,25,000
5,00,000
Gorakhpur
2,00,000
4,50,000
Guntur
2,10,000
4,75,000
Gurgaon
l2,25,000
5,00,000
Guwahati
2,10,000
4,75,000
Gwalior
2,00,000
4,50,000
Hyderabad
2,25,000
5,00,000
Indore
2,10,000
4,75,000
Jabalpur
2,00,000
4,50,000
Jaipur
2,25,000
5,00,000
Jalandhar
2,10,000
4,75,000
Jamshedpur
2,10,000
4,75,000
Jodhpur
2,00,000
4,50,000
Kanpur
2,00,000
4,50,000
Kochi
2,25,000
5,00,000
Kolkata
2,25,000
5,00,000
Kollam
2,10,000
4,75,000
Lucknow
2,10,000
4,75,000
Ludhiana
2,25,000
5,00,000
Madurai
2,10,000
4,75,000
Mangalore
2,10,000
4,75,000
Meerut
2,00,000
4,50,000
Moradabad
2,00,000
4,50,000
Mumbai
2,25,000
5,00,000
Mysore
2,25,000
5,00,000
Nagpur
2,10,000
4,75,000
Nashik
2,10,000
4,75,000
Navi Mumbai
2,25,000
5,00,000
Noida
2,25,000
5,00,000
Patna
2,00,000
4,50,000
Pune
2,25,000
5,00,000
Raipur
2,10,000
4,75,000
Rajkot
2,10,000
4,75,000
Ranchi
2,00,000
4,50,000
Surat
2,25,000
5,00,000
Thane
2,25,000
5,00,000
Vadodara
2,10,000
4,75,000
Varanasi
2,00,000
4,50,000
Visakhapatnam
2,10,000
4,75,000

Disclaimer

This information is sourced from open platforms and is for general awareness only. Costs may vary based on individual cases. Please consult a qualified doctor for medical advice and explore options within your budget before deciding on the procedure.

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