A laparotomy is an opening made through the abdominal wall into the peritoneal cavity.

In Lesson 3, the setup and preparation for surgery are outlined.

In the Appendix, the procedures during surgery are outlined.

The scrub should anticipate what items the surgeon will require during a procedure and have the items ready for the surgeon. The following information presents the requirements for a simple laparotomy using the normal sequence of events as an example of what the scrub would do during a laparotomy. The steps performed by the surgeon and the items furnished by the scrub for each step are presented along with illustrations of the incision while dissecting and while suturing. The instruments are also illustrated.

Each doctor will identify his requirements for instruments, sutures, and needles on a surgeon’s preference card that the scrub will use in preparing for the procedures. The Appendix illustrates one example of a laparotomy.