The indications and preoperative preparations are specific and are reviewed in Chapter 31, where the commonly used methods of reconstruction are shown with hand-sewn anastomoses. Many surgeons, however, prefer to use staples, because they simplify the anastomoses and lessen the total time of this operation.

General anesthesia is administered by endotracheal intubation.

Exposure is enhanced if the patient is placed in a reversed Trendelenburg position.

The skin over the lower thorax as well as the abdomen is shaved and cleansed with the appropriate antiseptic solution.

A diagnostic laparoscopy is often performed first to rule out inoperable spread of a malignancy. If this is clear, then a midline incision starting over the xiphoid and extending down to the umbilicus is made initially. This permits abdominal exploration and enables the surgeon to make a decision for or against proceeding with total gastrectomy. The incision is usually extended to the left and below the umbilicus if the decision is made to proceed with total gastrectomy. In the absence of metastases to the liver, peritoneum, omentum, and pelvis, the greater omentum is completely freed from the transverse colon. This permits evaluation of the posterior wall of the stomach as well as an evaluation for metastases about the left gastric vessels and attachments to the pancreas. Excision of the xiphoid provides a better exposure of the esophagogastric junction, along with medial mobilization of the left lobe of the liver following the division of the suspensory ligament to this lobe. An outline of a final reconstruction is shown in figure 1.