Gastric
Gastric
From weight loss to tumor removal, there’s a number of reasons a gastric surgery may be medically necessary. Our team of minimally invasive surgeons is proud to offer a variety of procedures to help our community heal from several different ailments, including:
- Obesity
- Benign tumors
- Malignant tumors
- Peptic ulcer disease
- Hiatal hernias
Surgical Solutions for Stomach Conditions
Our doctors are able to perform both minimally invasive and open surgeries, depending on a patient’s eligibility. These include:
- Gastric resection (gastrectomy). This procedure removes some (partial gastrectomy) or all (total) of the stomach and reconnects the esophagus or remaining part of the stomach to the rest of the digestive tract. This procedure may be necessary if the patient has gastric tumors, ulcers, or bleeding. A partial gastrectomy can also be used to help patients lose weight.
- Gastric bypass. Used to treat obesity, this bariatric procedure involves a surgeon dividing the stomach into two pouches, and the smaller pouch is then routed to the small intestine. These two actions reduce the amount of food it takes for a person to feel full and reduce the number of calories absorbed from food, resulting in weight loss.
- Hiatal hernia repair. Our team of surgeons can repair hiatal hernias both laparoscopically and robotically. Using a few small incisions, our surgeons utilize advanced technology to place a mesh-like patch over the opening in the abdominal wall.
- Lymph node dissection (lymphadenectomy). When gastric cancer metastasizes, it is common for it to spread to gastric lymph nodes. During this procedure, a surgeon typically removes the affected lymph nodes, as well as some lymphatic tissue and underlying soft tissue.
Why Choose Us
Our fellowship-trained surgeons are proud to provide compassionate, patient-centered care. Whether a patient is eligible for a minimally invasive procedure or requires open surgery, our team is ready and able to help.
Their training in minimally invasive procedures allows them to offer surgical solutions that benefit the patient through:
- Shorter recovery times
- Reduced pain
- Better cosmetic results
- Reduced risk of surgical site infection
We don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach to gastric surgery. Our surgeons collaborate as part of a team, which means they discuss different surgical solutions to find the most effective option for each patient. Additionally, several of our surgeons are affiliated with Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Institute, which allows for streamlined cancer care (both surgical and non-surgical) for our oncology patients.
Contact the Surgeons Group of Baton Rouge to discuss your surgical treatment options.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gastric Surgery
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How does a patient’s diet change after a stomach procedure?
Due to a smaller stomach, patients will have to eat several small meals a day to meet their nutritional needs. At first, recovering patients will only be able to eat certain items, and as time progresses, they can add more to their diet. This progress looks like:
- Clear liquids
- All mild liquids
- Pureed foods
- Soft, easily chewable foods
- Harder foods, including fruits and vegetables
- A full, balanced diet
Your doctor will advise you on the time period for each food stage and can provide more guidance on what foods are and are not allowed.
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How long does it take to recover from colorectal surgery?
The type and extent of the surgery you receive can determine the recovery time, as well as whether the surgery was open or minimally invasive. In general, minimally invasive procedures require less recovery time than open surgery. For example, an open colon resection may require up to one week of recovery in the hospital and an additional six weeks of recovery. In contrast, a minimally invasive colon resection may require a few days in the hospital and 3-6 weeks of recovery at home.
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What are the potential side effects of a gastric resection or bypass?
Because these procedures affect the path through which digesting food travels, patients may experience gastroparesis, delayed gastric emptying, or dumping syndrome, which can result in symptoms such as:
- Bloating
- Cramping
- Diarrhea
- Gas
- Light-headedness
- Nausea
- Vomiting