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

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

Surgery that opens the abdomen is called a laparotomy.

Laparotomy; Exploratory laparotomy

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

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

A biopsy can be taken during the procedure.

Laparoscopy describes a group of procedures that are performed with a camera placed in the abdomen. If possible, laparoscopy will be done instead of laparotomy.

Your doctor may recommend a laparatomy 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)
• Inflammation of the appendix (acute appendicitis)
• Inflammation of an intestinal pocket (diverticulitis)
• Inflammation of the pancreas (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 of any anesthesia include the following:

• Severe medication reaction
• Problems breathing

Risks of any surgery include the following:

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Damage to nearby structures

Additional risks include incisional hernia.

You should be able to start eating and drinking normally about 2 - 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 weeks.

Martin RS, Meredith JW. Management of acute trauma. In: Townsend CM Jr, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 19th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2012:chap 18.

Squires RA, Postier RG. Acute abdomen. In: Townsend CM Jr, Beauchamp RD,  Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 19th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2012:chap 47.