Exploratory laparotomy

[1] A database that tracks exploratory laparotomies performed in the United Kingdom estimates that about 30,000 are done across England and Wales each year out of a population of 59.5 million people.

[6] Reasons why a patient may require an exploratory laparotomy include: A vertical cut, or incision, is made in the middle of the abdomen.

Based on where and what injury or disease is identified, one or more additional procedures may be performed during an exploratory laparotomy, including: Depending on the stability of the patient following an exploratory laparotomy, the abdomen may be sutured back together ("primary closure") or one or more tissue layers may be left open ("open abdomen") to facilitate further non-surgical resuscitation.

In cases where the abdomen is left open, a vacuum dressing, a saline bag, or towel clips may be placed to protect the internal organs until the patient is stable enough to return to the operating room for definitive closure.

[3][4][5] It is lower for scheduled (elective) exploratory laparotomies, since patients are typically less sick and more optimized when procedures are able to be planned ahead of time.

[19] In 1888, Dr. Henry O. Marcy first discussed using exploratory laparotomy as a means of diagnosing acute nontraumatic abdominal and pelvic problems at the 39th Annual Meeting of the American Medical Association, citing how improvements in safe surgical methods "so greatly increased the utility of the operation".

[20] Since the early 2000s, the opposite trend has been seen thanks to improvements in laboratory testing; CT, MRI, and other medical imaging; and less invasive laparoscopic surgical techniques, all of which have made exploratory laparotomy less common for diagnostic purposes outside of the severe trauma setting.