A laparotomy is an operation to look inside your tummy (abdomen) and pelvis to find out if there is any cancer and if it has spread. Your surgeon makes a large cut down the middle of your abdomen.

He said the team performed an explanatory laparotomy [incision through the abdominal wall] to address the blockage. The procedure was led by Dr Hollenbach, Dr Yolandi Smit, and Sister Adelle Rossouw, ...