Gastrectomy
Partial or total removal of the stomach, usually for gastric cancer.
What to expect
Your Journey
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Before surgery
Preparation begins 4–8 weeks before surgery with a pre-assessment clinic visit for blood tests, ECG, and medication review. Good nutrition is especially important before this operation. You may be referred to a dietitian and advised to take nutritional supplement drinks if your appetite is poor. Prehabilitation exercises, particularly aerobic and breathing work, will help you recover more quickly. -
The day of surgery
You will be admitted on the morning of surgery or the night before. The operation is performed under general anaesthesia and takes 3–6 hours. You will then go to an intensive care unit (ICU) or high-dependency unit (HDU) for close monitoring overnight. You will have a drip, a drain near the stomach, and possibly a tube through your nose. -
In hospital
You will spend 7–10 days in hospital, with fluids and then soft foods introduced gradually under a dietitian's guidance. If you have had a total gastrectomy, your team will explain long-term nutritional changes, including the need for regular vitamin B12 injections for the rest of your life. A physiotherapist will guide your mobility from day one. -
Going home
After discharge, you will eat small, frequent meals (six or more per day) rather than large ones, and your team will guide you on what to avoid (particularly sweet or sugary foods, which can cause uncomfortable dumping syndrome symptoms). A follow-up appointment is usually within 2–4 weeks. Contact your team if you develop fever, vomiting, difficulty eating, or any wound concerns.
The people around you
Who looks after you
A lot of people are involved in getting you safely through an operation. Knowing who does what can make the whole experience feel less unfamiliar.
Your anaesthetist
Anaesthetists are specialist doctors who are trained in anaesthesia, pain management, and the care of seriously unwell patients. You will meet yours before the operation: they will go through your health, explain the plan, and answer any questions.
During surgery, your anaesthetist stays with you the whole time. They give the medications that keep you under anaesthesia and free of pain, and continuously monitor your breathing, heart, blood pressure, and fluids as the operation is happening. Afterwards they plan your pain relief, so you can breathe deeply, move, and recover. If you are worried about anything at all, tell them. Helping you through this safely and comfortably is their entire job.
Your surgeon
Surgeons are specialist doctors. You will usually meet yours first in clinic, to talk through whether surgery might be a helpful treatment option, what the risks are, and what happens if you choose not to have an operation. Sometimes an anaesthetist and other specialists are involved in these decisions too. Your surgeon performs your operation, and after surgery their team looks after you on the ward and plans your follow-up.
Pre-assessment nurse
Sees you in the weeks before surgery to review your health, medications, and test results, and to make sure everything is ready for the day. A good person to ask early questions.
Anaesthetic technician
A specially trained member of the theatre team who works alongside your anaesthetist, preparing and checking equipment and helping care for you throughout the operation.
Theatre and PACU nurses
Theatre nurses help to look after you, assist the surgeons, manage surgical equipment, and ensure everything runs smoothly. In the Post Anaesthesia Care Unit (PACU), specialised nurses monitor you closely as you wake and treat pain or nausea straight away.
Ward nurses
Your day-to-day carers in hospital: medications, wound care, and keeping an eye on your progress. They are your first port of call whenever something doesn't feel right.
Physiotherapist
Helps you recover movement and function after surgery. What this looks like depends on your operation: it might be breathing exercises to protect your lungs, joint exercises after a replacement, or simply helping you walk safely again. Getting moving is one of the most important parts of recovery, and they will guide you from your first steps out of bed.
Hospital pharmacist
Checks your medicines when you arrive and when you leave, making sure nothing is missed and your discharge medications are right.
Cultural and pastoral support
Most hospitals offer support for you and your whānau throughout your stay, including Māori and Pacific health services and chaplaincy for all faiths and none. Ask any staff member for a referral.
Build your prep plan
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