Abstract
Most surgeons have encountered a “hostile” abdomen. There is not necessarily an agreed upon definition, but terms such as “hostile,” “frozen,” “inaccessible,” and “difficult” are common ways to describe the pathology. Surgeons cannot enter the abdomen freely and it is often associated with large abdominal wall defects. This chapter addresses the optimal ways in which surgeons can mitigate the problems of the hostile abdomen. The approach to the patient with a hostile abdomen needs to be planned and carefully executed, as it often involves a violated and altered anatomy and physiology. The potential for significant complications both intra-operatively and postoperatively abound. A close partnership with the patient and his/her family are a pre-requisite. Timing of the operation and preparation for the operation are also key elements of this multidisciplinary approach. Due to the uniqueness of each case, individualizing the care of and surgical approach to patients with a hostile abdomen is of utmost importance.
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Lombardo, G., Latifi, R., Leppaniemi, A. (2017). Practical Approach to Patient with a Hostile Abdomen: Clinical Scenarios. In: Latifi, R. (eds) Surgery of Complex Abdominal Wall Defects. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55868-4_10
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55868-4_10
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