Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsPurposeRisksHow to PrepareDay of SurgeryLaparotomy RecoveryScar Care and Healing
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Purpose
Risks
How to Prepare
Day of Surgery
Laparotomy Recovery
Scar Care and Healing
Alaparotomyis a surgical incision made from top to bottom of the abdomen.A laparotomy is typically done to allow the surgeon to visualize the inside of the entire abdomen and identify what is wrong or might require repair.
Since the advent of minimal access surgery, laparotomies have decreased significantly.However, a laparotomy may be used when a surgeon might need more access than can be safely obtained through minimally invasive procedures.
This article will discuss laparotomy, when it is considered, risks, how to prepare, and recovery.
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Exploratory Laparotomy: Overview
Purpose of Laparotomy
A laparotomy might be indicated for different reasons.
Examples of when a non-trauma laparotomy might be performed are:
Emergency trauma laparotomy: A laparotomy is often the surgical procedure of choice in people who have experienced significant trauma, such as a trauma in which there is injury to the pelvis, chest and/or abdomen.
Indications for an emergency laparotomy include:
Details About Surgical Techniques Used
There are a few different techniques that can be used for a laparotomy:
How Laparotomy Differs From Laparoscopy
A laparotomy is a surgical incision, usually from the top to the bottom of the abdomen, that allows a surgeon to visualize various abdominal and pelvic organs fully. Alaparoscopyis considered a minimally invasive surgery in which a few small incisions are made in various areas of the abdomen to allow a small surgical camera and surgical instruments to be inserted into the abdomen.
A surgeon will determine if a laparotomy or laparoscopy is appropriate. The considerations for each approach are based on the extent of injury, the organs involved, and variables such as the person’s age, clinical condition, and other disease conditions that might complicate surgery.
It is possible a surgeon might start a procedure as a laparoscopy but determine during the procedure that it needs to be converted to an open laparotomy.The evidence suggests outcomes after surgery do not worsen in this case.
Laparotomy Major Risks and Side Effects
Emergency surgery, such as a laparotomy, can have a higher risk of complications than a planned or elective laparotomy.
In a planned or elective surgery, preparation can be done to ensure the person can tolerate the rigors associated with surgery. Things like maximizing fluid and nutritional factors and adjusting for other disease conditions are more easily addressed when planning for surgery.
With an emergency laparotomy, other conditions, such as blood loss or shock, can make surgery more challenging and increase complications, such as extended recovery time.
Major risks associated with laparotomy can potentially include:
How to Prepare for Laparotomy
If a laparotomy is being done due to an emergency condition, the goal is to begin the operation as soon as possible.
Other considerations might include:
Laparoscopy for Endometriosis
Day of Laparotomy Surgery
Physical and emotional considerations when preparing for surgery depend on the emergent nature of the surgery.
If a laparotomy is not being done as an emergency, ensuring the patient and their family have appropriate preoperative counseling can minimize anxiety. Counseling can including offering a full explanation of the procedure and what to expect in recovery.
Other things to expect on the day of surgery include:
Recovery from a laparotomystarts in the hospital and continues at home.
Short-Term Recovery
It is common to be admitted to the hospital following a laparotomy. Things to expect in the period immediately following surgery include:
Long-Term Recovery
Your surgeon will determine when it is safe for you to be discharged home. Considerations to discuss with your surgeon before discharge include:
Laparotomy Scar Care and Healing
Healing of the surgical incision occurs over weeks and even months.Initially, the scar might feel hard or uncomfortable and the skin near the incision might feel numb in places. These are normal to experience. Some of these symptoms might resolve and others might be permanent.
Often, the incision is closed with surgical glue or tape, which is intended to help keep the incision edges together and foster healing.It is important not to pick at or pull the surgical glue or tape and to allow it to fall off naturally.
Hysterectomy: Long-Term Care
Summary
A laparotomy is a surgical incision, usually from the top of the abdomen to the bottom of the abdomen, which allows a surgeon to visualize the various organs in the abdomen better. A laparotomy is often done in a trauma situation where there is a need to inspect and potentially repair organs in the abdomen or pelvis.
Unlike the minimally invasive laparoscopy procedure, a laparotomy often requires a stay in the hospital. Risks associated with laparotomy include bleeding, infection, and wound dehiscence.
Considerations following a laparotomy include pain management, monitoring for signs and symptoms of infection, adequate fluid and nutrition to help with wound healing and prevent constipation, and increasing activity as tolerated.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Rajaretnam N, Okoye E, Burns B.Laparotomy. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.Recovering after emergency laparotomy.Ahmed A, Azim A.Emergency laparotomies: causes, pathophysiology, and outcomes.Indian J Crit Care Med. 2020;24(Suppl 4):S183-S189. doi:10.5005/jp-journals-10071-23612Buia A, Stockhausen F, Hanisch E.Laparoscopic surgery: a qualified systematic review.World J Methodol. 2015;5(4):238-54. doi:10.5662/wjm.v5.i4.238Elkbuli A, Newsome K, Fanfan D, et al.Laparoscopic versus laparotomy surgical interventions for trauma patients with single upper left quadrant penetrating injuries: analysis of the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program Dataset.Am Surg. 2022;88(9):2182-2193. doi:10.1177/00031348221101510Mullen MG, Michaels AD, Mehaffey JH, et al.Risk associated with complications and mortality after urgent surgery vs elective and emergency surgery: implications for defining “quality” and reporting outcomes for urgent surgery.JAMA Surg. 2017;152(8):768-774. doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2017.0918American College of Surgeons.The day of your procedure.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Rajaretnam N, Okoye E, Burns B.Laparotomy. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.Recovering after emergency laparotomy.Ahmed A, Azim A.Emergency laparotomies: causes, pathophysiology, and outcomes.Indian J Crit Care Med. 2020;24(Suppl 4):S183-S189. doi:10.5005/jp-journals-10071-23612Buia A, Stockhausen F, Hanisch E.Laparoscopic surgery: a qualified systematic review.World J Methodol. 2015;5(4):238-54. doi:10.5662/wjm.v5.i4.238Elkbuli A, Newsome K, Fanfan D, et al.Laparoscopic versus laparotomy surgical interventions for trauma patients with single upper left quadrant penetrating injuries: analysis of the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program Dataset.Am Surg. 2022;88(9):2182-2193. doi:10.1177/00031348221101510Mullen MG, Michaels AD, Mehaffey JH, et al.Risk associated with complications and mortality after urgent surgery vs elective and emergency surgery: implications for defining “quality” and reporting outcomes for urgent surgery.JAMA Surg. 2017;152(8):768-774. doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2017.0918American College of Surgeons.The day of your procedure.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Rajaretnam N, Okoye E, Burns B.Laparotomy. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.Recovering after emergency laparotomy.Ahmed A, Azim A.Emergency laparotomies: causes, pathophysiology, and outcomes.Indian J Crit Care Med. 2020;24(Suppl 4):S183-S189. doi:10.5005/jp-journals-10071-23612Buia A, Stockhausen F, Hanisch E.Laparoscopic surgery: a qualified systematic review.World J Methodol. 2015;5(4):238-54. doi:10.5662/wjm.v5.i4.238Elkbuli A, Newsome K, Fanfan D, et al.Laparoscopic versus laparotomy surgical interventions for trauma patients with single upper left quadrant penetrating injuries: analysis of the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program Dataset.Am Surg. 2022;88(9):2182-2193. doi:10.1177/00031348221101510Mullen MG, Michaels AD, Mehaffey JH, et al.Risk associated with complications and mortality after urgent surgery vs elective and emergency surgery: implications for defining “quality” and reporting outcomes for urgent surgery.JAMA Surg. 2017;152(8):768-774. doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2017.0918American College of Surgeons.The day of your procedure.
Rajaretnam N, Okoye E, Burns B.Laparotomy. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.Recovering after emergency laparotomy.
Ahmed A, Azim A.Emergency laparotomies: causes, pathophysiology, and outcomes.Indian J Crit Care Med. 2020;24(Suppl 4):S183-S189. doi:10.5005/jp-journals-10071-23612
Buia A, Stockhausen F, Hanisch E.Laparoscopic surgery: a qualified systematic review.World J Methodol. 2015;5(4):238-54. doi:10.5662/wjm.v5.i4.238
Elkbuli A, Newsome K, Fanfan D, et al.Laparoscopic versus laparotomy surgical interventions for trauma patients with single upper left quadrant penetrating injuries: analysis of the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program Dataset.Am Surg. 2022;88(9):2182-2193. doi:10.1177/00031348221101510
Mullen MG, Michaels AD, Mehaffey JH, et al.Risk associated with complications and mortality after urgent surgery vs elective and emergency surgery: implications for defining “quality” and reporting outcomes for urgent surgery.JAMA Surg. 2017;152(8):768-774. doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2017.0918
American College of Surgeons.The day of your procedure.
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