Exploratory abdominal surgery?

Question

has anyone had to have this,and why? what happened?

Answer 1

Never had it, but anesthetized plenty of people for this procedure.  Sometimes, nothing is found; many times, bowel obstruction or cancer is found.

Most people who show up in the OR for an ex lap are pretty sick.

Answer 2

My boyfriend had it because he had been diagnosed with a ruptured appendix (half a year ago); first the surgeons tried to take it out through the usual laparascopy (little holes with cameras) method but when they looked in there they realised it had grown to about the size of a football (!) so they just had to slice halfway across his stomach...

It's a horrible healing procedure - he had to be on painkillers for absolutely ages and he's only just now started to feel normal.