title: Supraumbilical upper abdominal midline incision for pelvic surgery in the morbidly obese patient.
abstract: An upper abdominal midline incision was used for pelvic surgery in 16 morbidly obese patients (229-401 lb). When this approach is used, a Bookwalter retractor displaces the incision inferiorly and compresses the abdominal wall over the pelvis, and is then secured to the operating-room table. This approach provides adequate exposure of the pelvic organs and avoids an incision in the panniculus with its associated complications. No wound infections, postoperative dehiscences, or other serious postoperative morbidity occurred in these patients.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle.
authors: B E
authors: BE
authors: Greer
authors: J M
authors: JM
authors: Cain
authors: D C
authors: DC
authors: Figge
authors: K K
authors: KK
authors: Shy
authors: H K
authors: HK
authors: Tamimi
mesh_terms: D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009767:Obesity, Morbid; D010388:Pelvis / Q000601:surgery*; D013523:Surgical Equipment