Applied anatomy of abdominal incisions.

Opening the abdomen is the essential preliminary to the performance of a laparotomy. A correctly performed abdominal exposure is based on sound anatomical knowledge. The surgeon needs direct access to the organ(s) requiring investigation and surgical treatment and must provide adequate room for the safe performance of that surgery. If possible, the incision should be capable of easy extension to allow for any enlargement of the scope of the operation, and it should interfere as little as possible with the strength and function of the abdominal wall.