What is laparotomy?
Laparotomy or surgical exploration of the abdomen is a surgery whose purpose is to explore the organs and structures of the lower abdomen, such as the appendix, intestines, kidneys, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, bladder, uterus, etc.
It is performed under general anesthesia and can be simply exploratory or include some surgical procedure if necessary, as is performed for example in cases of intestinal obstruction.
What does it consist of?
The general and digestive surgeon makes an incision in the abdomen, from which he observes the organs. If necessary, a tissue sample (biopsy) may be taken and analyzed in the laboratory, especially in cases of suspected cancer. The surgeon will then use sutures or staples to close the incision.
Laparotomy is performed in the operating room under general anesthesia.
Why is it performed?
Exploratory laparotomy is recommended when an accurate diagnosis has not been obtained with medical tests such as X-rays and CT scans. It is useful to diagnose and treat diseases such as:
- Ovarian cancer
- Ectopic pregnancies
- Endometriosis
- Gallstones
- Acute appendicitis
- Pancreatitis or inflammation of the pancreas
- Diverticulitis or inflammation of the intestine
- Intestinal perforations
- Adhesions or scar tissue in the abdomen
- abscesses or infections
Preparing for laparotomy
Before surgery, the specialist will observe the patient’s medical history and inform him/her about the medications that he/she will not be able to take. He or she may also order various diagnostic tests to assess whether you can undergo surgery under anesthesia.
The patient may need to follow a special diet rich in fiber and fluids or even take laxatives to empty the bowel before the procedure, which reduces the risk of infection of the bowel after surgery.
What does the test feel like?
The procedure is painless for the patient because it is performed while the patient is asleep under general anesthesia.
After the operation the patient will remain hospitalized for a few days, during which time the doctors will observe the patient’s progress and rule out infections, blood clots, respiratory or intestinal problems.
The risk of clot formation must be controlled, as these clots could break off and cause a fatal vascular accident, such as a heart attack or stroke.
Advances in laparotomy
The main alternative and advance to laparotomy is laparoscopy, which is a less invasive technique that allows the specialist to observe the area by means of a camera and lighting system.
Laparoscopy is safer and with less risk of bleeding and complications, as well as less hospitalization and a shorter and less painful postoperative period for the patient. In addition, the scars resulting from laparotomy are noticeably larger and more visible. Therefore, whenever possible, laparoscopy is often used instead of laparotomy.