5-438.14:

Your stomach and your oesophagus have been surgically removed.

The oesophagus or gullet connects the mouth with the stomach. It is a muscular tube. The muscles in the oesophagus move food into the stomach. The stomach is located in the upper left abdomen. The stomach stores food and breaks it down further. Harmful pathogens are also killed by gastric acid in the stomach. The stomach thus prepares the food for digestion in the intestines.

Your stomach and your oesophagus have been cut out. A small section of the beginning of your small intestine was also removed. A section of your large intestine was also removed. This piece of intestine was then stitched in between the remaining upper end of your oesophagus and the open upper end of your small intestine.

So now, post-surgery, food passes through the piece of intestine that has been stitched in to your small intestine. So the additional piece of intestine is replacing your oesophagus and your stomach.

The operation also involved removing all of the lymph nodes around your stomach and some of those around other organs in your abdomen. The lymph nodes are small bean-shaped objects. They are found throughout the body. Lymph nodes filter the tissue fluid. They are part of the defense system.