What does "gastrojejunostomy" involve?

Gastrojejunostomy refers to a surgical procedure that creates a connection, or opening, between the stomach and the jejunum, which is part of the small intestine. This is often performed when there is a need to bypass a part of the digestive tract, such as in cases of stomach cancer or severe peptic ulcers, allowing food to pass directly from the stomach into the jejunum. This helps facilitate nutrition and digestion when the normal pathway is obstructed or compromised.

The other options pertain to different surgical procedures: removal of the gallbladder, which is known as a cholecystectomy; insertion of a feeding tube, typically for patients who cannot ingest food orally; and repairing a hernia, which involves reinforcing weakened areas of muscle to prevent organ protrusion. Each of these procedures serves distinct medical needs and does not involve the creation of an opening between the stomach and jejunum, making them unrelated to gastrojejunostomy.