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Abdominal Cavity:

Anatomy:
Origin:
o Start from diaphragm (Between 8th & 9th rib in dogs)
o End at pubis
o Between these points, organs are called abdominal organs
Borders:
o Dorsal: Lumbar vertebrae & its transverse processes
o Ventral: Rectus abdominis muscle & linea alba
o Cranial: Diaphragm
o Caudal: Pubis
o Lateral: Transverse abdominis muscle
Organs:
o Alimentary canal & Stomach
o Liver
o Pancreas
o Kidneys
o Urinary system (Completely in case of females & half in case of male)
o Spleen
o Reproductive tract (In case of females)
o Structures/accessories:
 Lymphatic
 Arteries
 Veins
 Peritoneal membrane
 Omentum
 Fluid

Approaches:
Ventral midline
Flank approach
Paramedian
Ventrolateral
Laparotomy: Specially the flank incision
Celiotomy: Incision into the abdominal cavity by using any 1 of the above approaches.
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Celiotomy is perfromed for diagnostic, therapeutic & prognostic purpose.

Ventral Midline Approach:

Skin of the abdominal wall is thin, pliable & hair are more sparse (less) than on lateral
abdominal wall
Cutaneous trunci muscle of the skin is thin. While paired preputial muscles are more
prominent in male dogs in the form of two bands of tissues that originate from the regions
around the umbilicus & extend caudally to the prepuce. While the supramammary
muscles of a bitch are not prominent.
In majority of the operations Ventral midline is used. It is a wonderful approach
because the skin is incised with a single strike of blade.
At ventral midline, this is a Linea alba;
o Latin word “WHITE LINE”
o Thick & whitish
o Fibro-collagenous tissue
o The linea alba is easier to locate near the umbilicus because it becomes
thinner near the pubis.
o Tendonous structures of the Transverse abdominis, Internus abdominis obliquus
& Externus abdominis obliquus converge on the midline to form the linea alba
o Linea alba is evident in dogs as a trough between slightly elevated paired Rectus
Abdominis Muscles while no trough in cats. In cats the linea alba can be seen as
a definite flat, semitransparent white band
o Cranial to umbilicus;
 Width is 2-3mm in dogs & 6-7mm in cats
 Less thick than caudal part
o Caudal to umbilicus;
 Width is 4-5mm in dogs & up to 1cm in cats
 More thick than cranial part

Flank & Ventrolateral approach:

 Three muscles are involved
o Externus abdominis obliquus (Its fibers runs caudoventrally)
o Internus abdominis obliquus (Its fibers runs cranioventrally)
o Transverse abdominis (Its fibers runs dorsoventrally. Beneath it, there is
transverse fascia & peritoneum. It has 2 parts; lumbar & costal.)
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Paramedian Approach:
Four muscles are involved
o Externus abdominis obliquus
 In cranial 1/3rd part of abdominal cavity
it externally enters the rectus abdominis
 In caudal 2/3rd part of the abdominal cavity
it internally enters the rectus abdominis
o Internus abdominis obliquus
 In cranial 1/3rd part of abdominal cavity
it internally enters the rectus abdominis
 In caudal 2/3rd part of the abdominal cavity
it externally enters the rectus abdominis
o Transverse abdominis
 In cranial 2/3rd part of abdominal cavity
it internally enters the rectus abdominis
 In caudal 1/3rd part of the abdominal cavity
it externally enters the rectus abdominis
o Rectus abdominis
 Long, wide & flat muscle
 No concern with linea alba
 Its fibers run cranio-caudally (longitudinally)
 It makes trough in dogs
 It bears all the weight of the abdomen
 Origin: 1st-2nd intercostals cartilage (Xiphoid cartilage)
 End: pubis
 Other abdominal muscles provide a fibrous sheath covering the rectus
abdominis.

Surgical Preparations for Ventral midline approach:

Shaving of the animal 5-6cm on one side of the linea alba & 5-6cm on other side
There are three divisions of ventral midline;

Cranial ventral midline Middle ventral midline Caudal ventral midline

Xiphoid to umbilicus
We can approach:
 Diaphragm
Some caudal part of cranial Umbilicus to prepubic tendon
ventral midline & some
cranial part of caudal ventral
midline
We can approach: We can approach:
 Kidneys  C-section
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 Liver  Jejunum  Ileum

 Pancreas  Caudal part of spleen  Urinary bladder
 Stomach  Some part of ileum  Colon
 Spleen  Ovaries (if number of  Caecum (its base is the
 Duodenum gestation is > 3-5 in part of choice)
 Gall bladder females)  Reproductive tract of
females (body of
uterus & uterine horns)
Complications:

Dehiscence (incisional hernias) may occur if improper surgical technique is used

Abdominal evisceration may occur if improper surgical technique is used
The most common causes of wound dehiscence in the early postoperative
period are suture breakage, knot slippage or untying, and sutures cutting
through tissue. (Incisional disruption)

Incision to skin

Dorsal recumbency

Incision extension

Small incision on linea alba

Falciform ligament Interrupted absorbable

excision suture on muscles

Simple continuous absorbable or

nonabsorbable suture on muscles

Simple, cruciate, vertical or horizontal

mattress, nonabsorbable suture on skin