Abdominal Exploration

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Indications - Abdominal Exploration

Exploratory laparotomy, the surgical exploration of the abdomen, is recommended when an abdominal disease from an unknown cause needs to be diagnosed, or when there is an injury to the abdomen (caused by a gunshot wound or stab wound, also known as "blunt trauma"). Diseases discovered by exploratory laparotomy include:

  • acute appendicitis (inflammation of the appendix)
  • acute or chronic pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
  • retroperitoneal, abdominal, or pelvic abscesses (pockets of infection)
  • endometriosis (presence of uterine tissue in the abdomen)
  • salpingitis (inflammation of the fallopian tubes)
  • adhesions (scar tissue in the abdomen)
  • cancer (of the ovaries, colon, pancreas, or liver)
  • varying degrees of cancer (such as Hodgkin's lymphoma)
  • diverticulitis (inflammation of an intestinal pocket)
  • intestinal perforation (hole in the intestine)
  • ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy in the abdomen instead of the uterus)

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