Definition of "laparotomy" [lap•a•rot•o•my]

• Surgical incision into the abdominal wall, especially into the flank. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Open tubal ligation, also known as a laparotomy, is performed through"
• "To Stone's way of thinking, McCray should have performed an operation called a laparotomy to locate and drain this abscess during Karsten's second hospitalization."
• "But since this approach requires a laparotomy, which is associated with longer hospitalization and increased blood loss, the postoperative road to recovery is often slow and painful as compared with less invasive approaches."