Definition

Abdominal exploration is surgery to look at the organs and structures in your belly area (abdomen). This includes your:

• Appendix
• Bladder
• Gallbladder
• Intestines
• Kidney and ureters
• Liver
• Pancreas
• Spleen
• Stomach
• Uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries (in women)

Surgery that opens the abdomen is called a laparotomy.

Alternative Names

Exploratory surgery; Laparotomy; Exploratory laparotomy

Description

Exploratory laparotomy is done while you are under general anesthesia. This means you are asleep and feel no pain.

Your surgeon makes a cut into the abdomen and examines the abdominal organs. The size and location of the surgical cut depend on the specific health concern.

A biopsy can be taken during the procedure.

Laparoscopy describes a procedure that is performed with a tiny camera placed inside the abdomen. If possible, laparoscopy will be done instead of laparotomy.

Why the Procedure Is Performed

Your health care provider may recommend a laparotomy if imaging tests of the abdomen, such as x-rays and CT scans, have not provided an accurate diagnosis.

Exploratory laparotomy may be used to help diagnose and treat many health conditions, including:

• Cancer of the ovary, colon, pancreas, liver
• Endometriosis
• Gallstones
• Hole in the intestine (intestinal perforation)
• Acute appendicitis
• Diverticulitis
• Acute or chronic pancreatitis
• Liver abscess
• Pockets of infection (retroperitoneal abscess, abdominal abscess, pelvic abscess)
• Pregnancy outside of the uterus (ectopic pregnancy)
• Scar tissue in the abdomen (adhesions)

Risks

Risks of anesthesia and surgery in general include:

• Reactions to medicines
• Breathing problems
• Bleeding, blood clots, infection

Risks of this surgery include:

• Incisional hernia
• Damage to organs in the abdomen

Before the Procedure

You will visit with your provider and have medical tests before your surgery. Your provider will:

• Do a complete physical exam.
• Make sure other medical conditions you may have, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, are under control.
• Perform tests to make sure that you will be able to tolerate the surgery.
• If you are a smoker, you should stop smoking several weeks before your surgery. Ask your provider for help.

Tell your surgeon or nurse if:

• You are or could be pregnant
• You are taking any medicines, including drugs, supplements, or herbs you bought without a prescription

During the week before your surgery:

• You may be asked to temporarily stop taking medicines that keep your blood from clotting. These medicines are called blood thinners. This includes over-the-counter medicines and supplements such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), and vitamin E. Many prescription medicines are also blood thinners.
• Ask your surgeon which medicines you should still take on the day of surgery.

On the day of surgery:

• Follow instructions about when to stop eating and drinking.
• Take the medicines your surgeon told you to take with a small sip of water.
• Arrive at the hospital on time.

Outlook (Prognosis)

You should be able to start eating and drinking normally about 2 to 3 days after the surgery. How long you stay in the hospital depends on the severity of the problem. Complete recovery usually takes about 4 to 6 weeks.

References

Landmann A, Bonds M, Postier R. Acute abdomen. In: Townsend CM Jr, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 21st ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2022:chap 46.

Young S, Tsai S. Management of periampullary cancer. In: Cameron JL, Cameron AM, eds. Current Surgical Therapy. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:589-599.