Gastrectomy (Stomach Removal)
A gastrectomy is an operation to remove part of the stomach (partial) or the whole stomach (total) and reconnect the digestive tract so you can still eat. It is most often performed to treat stomach cancer, and is also used for certain large or bleeding ulcers, tumors and severe stomach disease.
Medically reviewed by the Florence Healthcare medical team · Last reviewed June 2026
Overview
Gastrectomy removes diseased stomach tissue and restores a working digestive pathway. In a partial (subtotal) gastrectomy the surgeon removes the affected portion and joins the remaining stomach to the intestine; in a total gastrectomy the whole stomach is removed and the esophagus is connected directly to the small intestine. When the operation is for cancer, nearby lymph nodes are usually removed and examined as well. The procedure can be performed as open surgery or, in suitable cases, laparoscopically or with robotic assistance for smaller incisions and a smoother recovery.
Because gastrectomy is a major operation that changes how you eat and absorb nutrients, it is planned by a multidisciplinary team including surgeons, oncologists and specialist dietitians. For international patients, a dedicated coordinator arranges staging investigations, the surgical plan and a transparent cost estimate before travel, and our specialists can review your scans, endoscopy and pathology remotely so the recommendation is clear before you arrive in İstanbul.
Who is a candidate?
- People diagnosed with stomach (gastric) cancer for whom surgery offers the best chance of control or cure
- Patients with certain stomach tumors, such as large or bleeding tumors that cannot be managed endoscopically
- Those with severe peptic ulcers that bleed, perforate or do not respond to other treatment
- Individuals with a strong inherited risk of stomach cancer who are advised to have preventive removal
- Patients fit enough for major surgery and a changed eating pattern, confirmed by a full pre-operative assessment
- People whose disease has been staged so the team can confirm gastrectomy is the right treatment
What happens
- 1
Evaluation and staging
Your team confirms the diagnosis and extent of disease with endoscopy, biopsies and scans, and assesses your fitness with blood tests, heart and lung checks and a dietitian review to plan nutrition before and after surgery.
- 2
Preparation
You receive clear guidance on fasting, medications and, where helpful, nutritional support beforehand. The surgeon explains whether a partial or total gastrectomy is planned and how it will be carried out.
- 3
The operation
Under general anesthesia, the surgeon removes the affected part or all of the stomach, removes nearby lymph nodes if the operation is for cancer, and reconnects the digestive tract so food can pass into the intestine.
- 4
Early recovery in hospital
You are monitored closely, with pain control and gradual reintroduction of fluids and food guided by your team and dietitian. Early gentle movement helps recovery, and the average stay is around five to ten days.
- 5
Eating and recovery at home
You move to smaller, more frequent meals and may need vitamin and mineral supplements long term, especially after a total gastrectomy. Most people rebuild their strength and activity over six to twelve weeks with dietitian support.
- 6
Follow-up
Regular reviews track your recovery, nutrition and, where relevant, any further cancer treatment. International patients leave with a clear aftercare plan and can be supported remotely after returning home.
Benefits
- Removes cancerous or severely diseased stomach tissue, offering the best chance of control or cure for many gastric cancers
- Resolves problems such as bleeding, obstruction or a large ulcer that other treatments cannot
- Lymph node removal during cancer surgery helps determine the stage and guide any further treatment
- Minimally invasive (laparoscopic or robotic) surgery, where suitable, means smaller incisions and a smoother recovery
- A structured eating plan and dietitian support help most people return to a comfortable, nourishing diet
Risks & considerations
- Bleeding, infection or a leak where the digestive tract is rejoined, which the team monitors for closely
- Changes in digestion such as feeling full quickly, weight loss, or 'dumping' (rapid emptying causing cramps or lightheadedness after meals)
- Long-term need for smaller, more frequent meals and, often, vitamin and mineral supplements
- Reflux or difficulty eating certain foods, which usually improves with dietary adjustment over time
- General risks of major surgery and anesthesia, including blood clots and chest infection
Conditions this treats
Where it is performed
This procedure is performed by our General Surgery Department.
Learn more before you decide
Provider-reviewed guides on the related conditions, symptoms and tests in our Health Library.
Gastrectomy (Stomach Removal) — frequently asked questions
Gastrectomy is major surgery, so plan for a longer trip. The hospital stay is usually around five to ten days, and most patients remain in İstanbul for two to three weeks in total to allow recovery and a post-operative review before flying home. Your coordinator confirms the timeline and a transparent, personalized cost estimate in advance.
Yes. You can share your endoscopy reports, biopsy and pathology results and scans, and our surgical and oncology specialists will review them remotely. We then confirm whether gastrectomy is recommended, explain the plan and provide a clear cost estimate before you make any travel arrangements.
You can still eat, but your eating pattern changes. Most people move to smaller, more frequent meals and adjust gradually with the help of a specialist dietitian. After a total gastrectomy, lifelong vitamin and mineral supplements are usually needed. Many patients return to a comfortable, varied diet over the following months.
A partial (subtotal) gastrectomy removes only the diseased portion of the stomach and joins the rest to the intestine, while a total gastrectomy removes the whole stomach and connects the esophagus directly to the small intestine. Which one you need depends on where the disease is and how extensive it is.
For stomach cancer, surgery is often combined with chemotherapy before or after the operation, and sometimes other treatments, depending on the stage. Your multidisciplinary team explains whether additional treatment is recommended and coordinates it as part of your overall plan.
Early recovery in hospital takes several days, and most people rebuild their energy and activity over roughly six to twelve weeks, with eating habits continuing to settle over the following months. Recovery varies with the extent of surgery, the underlying diagnosis and any additional treatment you receive.
Related treatments
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