Laparotomy sponges, also known as laparotomy pads or absorbent pads, are used to evacuate blood during abdominal operations. Laparotomy sponges are used to absorb viscera surrounding the surgical site, so that internal organs may be seen clearly during surgery. To enhance absorbency, laparotomy sponges are mostly composed of 100 percent cotton. Laparotomy sponges can also be made of 100 percent rayon chamoix, rayon–polypropylene chamoix, or 20/80 nylon–polyester composite towels. Retained surgical corpses are common with laparotomy sponges.
A laparotomy (also known as a celiotomy) is a surgical operation that involves making a wide incision in the abdomen to obtain access to the abdominal cavity. This surgical treatment is used to check the function of numerous abdominal organs such as the stomach, intestine, and liver. Laparotomy can also be used to diagnose different anomalies in the important organs of the abdomen. Exploratory laparotomy is a type of laparotomy used for diagnostic purposes. Colon cancer and peptic ulcer are two diseases that can be detected and treated.
Midline incision, Kocher incision, Davis/Rockey-Davis incision, Pfannenstiel incision, lumbotomy, and Cherney incision are three types of laparotomy incisions. The most common type of incision is a midline incision, followed by a laparotomy. Upper midline incisions and lower midline incisions are two types of midline incisions. Various medical entities such as needles, gloves, and laparotomy sponges are used by surgeons to preserve cleanliness at the operation table and in the operating room when performing laparotomy. Laparotomy sponges, sometimes referred to as laparotomy pads, are absorbent pads that are used during abdominal operations.