How to use abdominal wall retractors at laparotomy in grossly obese patients

Abstract

A simple technique for applying laparotomy retractors to obese patients has been successfully applied in 25 patients. The procedure involves creating a “tunnel” through the subcutaneous fat tissue from a midline incision to a second skin incision, through which the retractor is introduced. No complaints were reported in 20 patients followed for 6–18 months, and except for slight redness in one wound, no complications from the extra incisions occurred.