Laparotomy

The word laparotomy is derived from the Greek words lapara , meaning flank , and tomy,  meaning cut . In surgical practice, this translates to a big cut in the abdomen to gain access to the peritoneal cavity. Usually, a standard laparotomy is a cut made in the midline along the linea alba. In the United Kingdom, this is a common procedure with approximately 30,000 to 50,000 performed annually.
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