Type of Incisions: Transverse
Contributed by Mika Sinanan,
MD
and his staff at the University of Washington Medical
School
The
transverse incision is made just above the umbilicus and
divides one or both sides of the rectus muscle as necessary.
Transverse incisions are most commonly used for access to
the right colon (when placed on the right), duodenum, and
access to the pancreas where the incision is carried across
the midline. They provide excellent exposure to the
subhepatic space and upper gastrointestinal tract,
reportedly with less pain than a midline incision. However,
in the current era, many surgeons have entirely replaced
transverse incisions with midline incisions extended as
necessary to gain lateral access to the abdominal and
retroperitoneal viscera.
See surgical video footage of a
transverse incision (MPEG format)
Video Resource: Incisions, Donald G.
Gallup, M.D. 1991 (VHS 28 minutes) available from
Ciné-Med's
ACS/USSC
Educational Library (General Interest Topics)
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