crash laparotomy
Emergency abdominal surgery performed immediately upon arrival to the operating room without standard preparation.
Full Definition
A crash laparotomy is an emergency surgical procedure performed with minimal preparation time when a patient's condition is so critical that standard pre-operative protocols must be abbreviated or bypassed. This typically occurs in cases of profound hemodynamic instability, cardiac arrest, or imminent exsanguination where survival depends on immediate surgical intervention. The procedure involves rapid patient positioning, abbreviated surgical preparation, and immediate abdominal exploration to identify and control life-threatening pathology. Crash laparotomies require exceptional coordination between surgical, anesthesia, and nursing teams.
Usage
Usage note: Implies extreme urgency and abbreviated preparation, distinct from routine emergency surgery.
In Context
- "The trauma patient underwent crash laparotomy for presumed intra-abdominal hemorrhage." — Operative report
- "Operating room teams prepared for crash laparotomy given the patient's deteriorating condition." — Emergency surgery communication