STOMACH AND ESOPHAGUS SURGERY

Gastric surgery involves removing part (subtotal gastrectomy or gastric resection) or the entire stomach (total gastrectomy). These cases most often involve malignant tumors, and after the resection, the reconstructive phase aims to recreate adequate continuity through sutures between the stomach and intestines to ensure the patient can live as normally as possible after the surgery. There are also less aggressive procedures, such as partial resections or enucleations, which are mainly indicated for benign or potentially malignant tumors.

Esophageal surgeries include partial resections or total esophagectomies. The location and pathology of the organ determine the type of surgery, the access route (cervical, thoracic, abdominal, or combined), and whether the procedure is open, laparoscopic, or robotic. The most extensive procedures are typically performed for benign or malignant tumors. These are often complex and lengthy surgeries, frequently requiring intensive care, especially if thoracic access is involved. The patient’s age and comorbidities also influence the type of recovery and the potential for complications (sometimes severe) that can occur with these types of surgeries.

Surgery is also performed to correct functional disorders, such as hiatal hernia, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or esophageal emptying issues (e.g., achalasia). In these cases, surgery aims to correct the anatomical defect through sutures (gastroesophageal plastic surgery) or muscle wall incisions. These procedures generally do not involve removing gastric tissue and can be performed using minimally invasive techniques (laparoscopic or robotic surgery).