Radical Gastrectomy

1. What is Radical Gastrectomy?

Radical gastrectomy is surgery performed mainly for gastric (stomach) cancer.

Depending on the location and extent of the cancer, the procedure may involve:

• Subtotal or partial gastrectomy – removal of part of the stomach
• Total gastrectomy – removal of the entire stomach
• Removal of nearby lymph nodes (lymphadenectomy)
• Removal or reconstruction of nearby tissues where required

After stomach removal, the digestive tract is reconstructed to allow food to pass through the digestive system.

2. When Is Radical Gastrectomy Recommended?

Radical gastrectomy may be recommended for:

• Localised stomach cancer
• Resectable locally advanced gastric cancer
• Selected cancers not adequately treated with less extensive procedures
• Certain recurrent stomach cancers
• Selected gastric tumours requiring surgical removal

Some patients may receive chemotherapy before and/or after surgery depending on the cancer stage and treatment plan.

3. How Is the Patient Evaluated Before Surgery?

Evaluation may include:

• Surgical oncology consultation
• Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy
• Biopsy and pathology review
• CT scan
• PET-CT in selected cases
• Diagnostic laparoscopy where appropriate
• Blood tests
• Nutritional assessment
• Cancer staging
• General medical and anaesthesia evaluation

These investigations help determine whether the cancer can be surgically removed and guide treatment planning.

4. What Does the Procedure Involve?

The general treatment pathway includes:

Diagnosis confirmation → Endoscopy and biopsy review → CT/PET-CT staging → Surgical oncology evaluation → Multidisciplinary treatment planning → Preoperative preparation → Radical gastrectomy → Lymph-node dissection → Digestive tract reconstruction → ICU/ward monitoring → Nutritional rehabilitation → Pathology review → Follow-up treatment where required

The exact procedure depends on the location and stage of the cancer.

5. What Surgical Approaches Are Available?

Depending on the patient's condition and tumour characteristics, surgery may be performed using:

• Open radical gastrectomy
• Laparoscopic gastrectomy
• Robotic-assisted gastrectomy in selected cases

The surgeon determines the most appropriate approach based on cancer stage, tumour location and surgical complexity.

6. How Long Does Surgery and Recovery Take?

Radical gastrectomy is a major surgical procedure.

Typical considerations include:

• Surgery: approximately 4–8 hours
• Hospital stay: approximately 7–14 days or longer
• Initial recovery: several weeks
• Nutritional adaptation: may continue for months
• Follow-up: long-term oncology and nutritional monitoring is required

Recovery varies depending on the extent of surgery and the patient's overall condition.

7. What Are the Expected Benefits and Outcomes?

For suitable patients, radical gastrectomy may:

• Remove stomach cancer
• Remove involved regional lymph nodes
• Provide detailed pathological staging
• Offer treatment with curative intent for selected cancers
• Help control localised or locally advanced disease

Outcomes depend on the cancer stage, pathology, completeness of tumour removal and overall treatment plan.

8. What Are the Risks or Considerations?

Potential risks include:

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Leakage from surgical connections
• Blood clots
• Injury to nearby organs
• Bowel obstruction
• Delayed gastric or intestinal function
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Weight loss
• Dumping syndrome
• Need for long-term vitamin and nutritional supplementation

The risks vary according to whether partial or total gastrectomy is performed.

9. Why Consider Radical Gastrectomy in India?

India has specialised cancer centres offering:

• Experienced surgical oncologists and gastrointestinal surgeons
• Advanced endoscopy and cancer staging
• Laparoscopic and robotic surgery options
• Multidisciplinary oncology teams
• Modern ICU and postoperative care
• Nutritional rehabilitation
• Medical oncology and radiation oncology support where required

10. How Can Medavelle Help and What Should the Patient Do Next?

Medavelle can assist with:

Medical-record review → Surgical oncology coordination → Hospital selection → Diagnosis and staging review → Multidisciplinary treatment planning → Cost estimation → International patient arrangements.

Next step: Share endoscopy, biopsy & imaging reports → Specialist evaluation → Cancer staging → Assessment of surgical suitability → Personalised treatment planning → Radical gastrectomy where recommended → Recovery and nutritional rehabilitation → Further oncology treatment and follow-up where required.