Definitions
- Laparotomy: opening up to abdomen
- Laparoscopy: performing keyhole surgery on the abdomen
- Adhesions: scar tissue in the abdomen that attach its contents together (like spiderman’s webs)
- Volvulus: twisting of the colon
- Tenesmus: symptoms of full rectum/needing to open bowels after having emptied bowels
- Hemicolectomy: removing a portion of the bowel
- Hartmann’s procedure: removing rectum and/or sigmoid colon and forming a colostomy
There are three main causes of intestinal adhesions: previous surgery, peritonitis and intra-abdominal infection. Rarely radiotherapy and congenital adhesions.
Incisions / scars
- Several (usually 3) 5-10mm scars can indicate laparoscopic procedure
- Kocher incision – open cholecystectomy
- Mercedes Benz incision – liver transplant
- Rooftop Incision – liver transplant, Whipples/ pancreatic surgery, upper GI surgery
- Left / right paramedian incision – laparotomy
- Inguinal incision – hernia repair
- Femoral incision – femoral vessel surgery
- Midline incision – laparotomy, allows good access to abdominal organs
- McBurney incision – open appendicectomy
- Battle incision – appendicectomy
- Lanz incision – open appendicectomy
- Rutherford Morrison incision – renal transplant
- Pfannenstiel incision – Caesarean section and abdominal hysterectomy