Abdominal surgery, or laparotomy, is a procedure that requires opening of the abdomen. MedlinePlus reports that it is used to treat certain health problems such as perforation of intestines in trauma cases; inflammation of abdominal organs such as the appendix, intestines or pancreas; stones in the gallbladder; pockets of infection in the abdomen; intra-abdominal abscesses, adhesions or scarring of tissues within the abdomen; and ectopic pregnancy or pregnancy outside the uterus. Abdominal surgery can also be used to accurately diagnose certain problems such as cancers within the abdomen.
Surgical Wound Infection
According to the Surgical Treatment Evidenced-Based and Problem-Oriented website of the National Center for Biotechnology Information, surgical wound infection can be defined as discharge of pus from a surgically closed wound or evidence of soft tissue infection around a wound that remains open for delayed surgical closure. Surgical wound infection can be prevented by making sure that no disease-causing microorganism comes into contact with the surgical wound during the operation. Surgeons and nurses must use proper hand washing techniques prior to an operation and use sterile gloves, drapes and instruments during the surgical procedure. Surgical wound infection can also be prevented by using prophylactic antibiotics after the operation to ward off potential infection-causing bacteria within the wound.
Pneumoperitoneum
Pneumoperitoneum, or free gas, within the abdominal cavity can develop following a surgical operation. Clinical manifestation of this complication may include abdominal distention after surgery and breathing difficulties. According to an article published by the "Internet Journal of Surgery" in 2008, mild cases of pneumoperitoneum usually resolve within one week after an abdominal procedure. However, it can sometimes remain for up to four weeks after the operation. But in cases of massive free gas in the abdomen, reoperation is usually warranted.
Intra-Abdominal Adhesion
Intra-abdominal adhesions are intra-abdominal bands of scars seen in up to 94 percent of patients who undergo abdominal surgery, according to a study published in August 2004 by the "Annals of Surgery." This can cause abdominal pain and sometimes intestinal obstruction that warrants reoperation and lysis, or removal, of adhesions. However, this surgical procedure does not guarantee that intra-abdominal adhesions will not recur.
Bleeding
Bleeding is a common complication of abdominal surgery, according to MedlinePlus. This can be due to an accidental cut to neighboring blood vessels within the surgical site. Ligation of the involved blood vessel must be done during the operation to prevent massive blood loss. However, if massive bleeding is diagnosed only after the surgical procedure, reoperation is imperative to stop the source of bleeding.
References
- MedlinePlus: Abdominal Exploration
- Surgical Treatment Evidenced-Based and Problem-Oriented: Abdominal Wall Considerations in Re-Operative Surgery
- "Internet Journal of Surgery"; Spontaneous Peritoneum: A Surgeon's Dilemma; S.K. Sahu et al.; 2008
- "Annals of Surgery"; Intra-Abdominal Adhesion Prevention: Are We Getting Any Closer?; J.M. Becker et al.; August 2004
