Midline Abdominal Incision

A midline abdominal incision is a specific form of open abdominal incision placed on the midline to enter the peritoneal cavity. It is valued for speed, flexibility, and access across multiple abdominal quadrants. However, midline incisions are clinically important because they can be associated with notable rates of postoperative complications, particularly incisional hernia, if the fascial layer does not heal optimally. Closure decisions often focus on achieving durable fascial approximation with controlled tension and standardized stitch placement, especially in high-risk patients or contaminated cases.

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