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Open Surgery

By Jennifer Heisler, RN, About.com

Updated: January 03, 2009

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Definition: Open surgery is the traditional type of surgery where a long incision is made for the surgeon to insert the instruments, visualizing the surgery through the incision. With an open approach, the incision for a typical appendectomy is approximately 4 inches long.

Related Surgery Information: Incision Care Made Easy

Examples: After open surgery the incision was closed with staples.
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