Laparoscopic Surgery for Gastric Cancer, also known as laparoscopic gastrectomy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure in which the surgeon removes the tumor in the stomach, through the use of a laparoscope and surgical instruments. The procedure is conducted to:

• Remove cancerous part of the stomach and lymph nodes near the stomach which have been affected by cancer cells.
• If the cancer cells have spread throughout the stomach, the whole stomach is removed.

Why Laparoscopic Surgery for Gastric Cancer is required

The treatment of Gastric cancer through laparoscopic techniques is highly preferred by medical experts or the following reasons:

• Smaller incisions are required for the surgery with reduced post-operative pain
• Faster recovery with a shorter hospital stay.
• Lesser complications after the surgery.

How the procedure is done

Before the procedure starts the patient is administered with general anesthesia. A catheter is inserted to monitor the urine output of the patient. Then a tube known as the nasogastric tube is inserted through the nose down to the stomach, so that abdomen can be cleaned with an antiseptic solution. A laparoscope is inserted through a small incision to monitor the exact condition of the affected area and to monitor the removal procedure during the surgery. The surgeon makes three small incisions in the abdominal area, through the surgical instruments are inserted to conduct the surgery. The surgeon operates the affected part of the stomach and removes it along with the tumors or ulcers. If a lower part is operated upon the stomach is attached to the small intestine, whereas if the upper part is operated upon then the esophagus (food pipe) is attached to the lower part of the stomach. After the procedure is over the surgeon stitches all the incisions and they have dressed appropriately.

After Laparoscopic Surgery for Gastric Cancer

After the surgery, the patient is sent to the post-operation room where he is kept for a few hours under observation. Then he is shifted to the ICU or Ward depending on the condition of the patient’s health. The patient is not allowed to eat or drink anything immediately after the surgery. The patient may have to stay in the hospital for a couple of days. On discharge, the doctor will prescribe medicines and advise on how to take care of the patient. He will call him for regular follow up visits. It takes a few weeks for the patient to return to his normal routine life.