Find out what you need to know about exploratory laparotomy. Discover the pros, cons, risks, and benefits, and how it may affect health. ... You will likely have a catheter to drain your urine.

Exploratory laparotomy is a procedure in which the abdomen is opened up for exploratory purposes. This is done only in medical emergencies or when other diagnostic tests can’t explain symptoms.

A laparotomy is typically done to allow the surgeon to visualize the inside of the entire abdomen and identify what is wrong or might require repair. Since the advent of minimal access surgery, ...