Question:
Is it common for the stomach to be removed?

My surgeon removes the stomach and gall bladder when he does the RNY surgery. I was wondering if this is common because I had not seen it before in my research. Any comments or suggestions about how this will effect me later?    — Ro M. (posted on October 3, 2001)

October 3, 2001
Find yourself another surgeon. Removing the gallbladder is common, but not your stomach! Heaven forbid you needed this surgery reversed--it has happened before--you'd be screwed (excuse my language; this question just has me baffled!) Please, please, please find another surgeon or at least consult with other surgeons. Go to the chat room, I'm sure that others will find this just as disturbing as I do. Sorry for seeming brash :0)
   — [Anonymous]

October 3, 2001
What you're referring to is having your stomach completely Transected. Yes, this does happen, but I don't believe it is common. I asked my surgeon about this, and he doesn't do it, and I haven't regretted leaving the unused part of the stomach in. It isn't as horrible as the previous posted states. Look in this site's library. There are some good previous questions and answers about stomach transection. Good luck!!
   — [Anonymous]

October 3, 2001
They don't remove your stomach. They transsect the old part from the new part. Actually my doc does this and many others do it too, as it has been found to be an improvement on the old surgical technique, with less risk of staple line breakdown and complications that occurred with the old technique before transsection was found to reduce those risks. All the ladies in my support group who are postop had roux en y that included transsection and every one of them is healthy, with no problems and losing weight like crazy, so it is not anything to avoid, but rather to be preferred. Check on some research on the various procedures and you'll find this to be more and more common among bariatric surgeons who are refining their technique. Good luck to you !!!
   — Lisa D.

October 3, 2001
In the duodenal switch procedure, the stomach is cut "the long way", preserving the esophageal(upper) and pyloric (lower) valves; almost "hot dog" shaped, and the balance of the stomach is removed. The remaining stomach is sewed up and usually can hold between 100-150cc (about 1 1/2 cups). It is a naturally functioning stomach, just made smaller. I believe that is what your surgeon is referring to. And the gall bladder is removed because of its potential for developing gall stones. You can live quite comfortably without a gall bladder, which simply holds bile made by your liver in reserve until you eat something fatty and the bile is released to digest it. People without a gall bladder still make bile in the liver and it is release directly into the intestines. Good Luck to you!
   — merri B.

October 4, 2001
Only the original poster can tell us what he/she meant. However, there are some doctors who do remove the old stomach. They don't just transect it. So I think we're looking at two different discussions. Yes, transection is different from stapling without transection, but neither of those involves removal of the unused stomach. I believe that complete removal is pretty rare and I think you definitely need to discuss this with your surgeon. I remember reading a profile about someone who's surgeon believed that the old stomach was better off coming out altogether, it may be the same surgeon.
   — kcanges

October 4, 2001
I am having to have all but 2 oz of my stomach removed, but because I have scleroderma and my stomach has started to atrophy and doesn't really function anymore. You may want to make sure that this is the best option for you, everything I've heard is that it is pretty drastic, and there is usually a really, really good reason. Good luck, and do your research and you'll be fine.
   — Lisa B.