STEPP GI Disorders Practice Test 2025 - Free GI Disorders Practice Questions and Study Guide

In a subtotal gastrectomy, a significant portion of the stomach is removed, typically around two-thirds to three-quarters. This surgical procedure is often performed to treat conditions such as gastric cancer or severe peptic ulcer disease, where preserving some stomach function is still necessary, thus enhancing the patient's ability to digest food after the procedure.

By removing a large part of the stomach, the surgery aims to eliminate the diseased portion while retaining enough stomach capacity to allow for some normal digestive processes. It is also important because the remaining part of the stomach can still secrete gastric juices necessary for digestion.

Other options do not accurately reflect the extent of resection that defines a subtotal gastrectomy. For instance, removing only a quarter of the stomach or just the duodenum would not meet the criteria for this procedure. Meanwhile, the complete removal of the entire stomach falls under total gastrectomy, which is a more extreme measure.