Laparotomy, Exploratory

Laparotomy or Coeliotomy is usually performed in patients with acute abdominal pain, in patients with a malignancy and in patients who suffers from continuous abdominal trauma.

Laparotomy is a surgical procedure performed on the abdomen to gain access into the cavity. It is done using the large incision, rather than a simple invasive approach. During this samples of tissues may be taken in a procedure called abiopsy.

 Diseases that may be revealed during exploratory laparotomy include:

  • Pregnancy Occurring Outside Of The Uterus
  • Intestinal Perforation
  • Internal Bleeding
  • Inflammation Of The Peritoneum
  • Inflammation Of The Pancreas
  • Inflammation Of The Appendix
  • Foreign Bodies
  • Diverticulitis
  • Cancer Of The Abdominal Organs
  • Adhesions
  • Abscesses

 Risks specific to this procedure are:

  • Bleeding from the surgery site
  • Incisional hernia
  • Infection

Laparoscopy

Laparoscopic surgery or keyhole surgery, is a surgical technique in which operations in the abdomen are performed through small incisions which is usually 0.5–1.5 cm.In this surgery  images are displayed on TV monitors to enlarge the surgical elements. There are two types of Laparoscope. They are

  1. A Telescopic rod lens system, (connected to a video camera) 
  2. A Digital laparoscope where the charge-coupled device is positioned at the end of the laparoscope

Laparoscopy is done:

  • To check abnormal growths in the belly or pelvis.
  • To find out cancer in another area of the body has spread to the belly.
  • For Partial removal of the colon 
  • To check  conditions such as  pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or ectopic pregnancy
  • To check cysts, adhesions, fibroids, and infection, the conditions that makes hard for a woman to become pregnant.
  • To find the cause of sudden or constant pelvic pain.
  • To check for damage to internal organs, such as the spleen, after an injury or accident.
  • To fix a hiatal hernia or an inguinal hernia.
  • Take out organs like uterus, spleen, gallbladder ,ovaries, or appendix .

Advantages to the patient with laparoscopic surgery

  • Faster return to everyday living.
  • Less pain, leading to less  use of pain medication 
  • Low risk of acquiring infections.
  • Reduced hemorrhaging
  • Reduces pain and shortens recovery time.