Laparotomy is a surgery that is done for the purpose of opening, exploring and examining to treat problems that arise in the abdomen. There are two types of laparotomy, simple and exploratory.
Some problems inside the abdomen can be diagnosed with noninvasive examinations, such as radiography or computerized axial tomography, but many require surgery to "explore" the abdomen and obtain an accurate diagnosis.
While the patient is under general anesthesia or regional anesthesia, the surgeon makes an incision in the abdomen and examines the abdominal organs. The size and location of the incision depends on the clinical situation. The affected areas can be treated and tissue samples taken (biopsy).
Surgical incisions of the anterior abdominal wall:
The diseases that can be discovered by an exploratory laparotomy are, among others:
This surgery can also be used to determine the extent of some cancers (Hodgkin's lymphoma).
The prognosis varies according to the diagnosis at the time of Laparotomy. When finished in the case of exploratory laparotomy, it is decided whether it is closed or left open (Bolsa de Bogotá) and whether a patient emerges from General Anesthesia or not.
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