A laparotomy procedure is a common surgical technique, especially in an emergency setting. Defined as the making of an incision into the abdominal wall to access the abdominal or pelvic cavity, a laparotomy can be explorative, therapeutic or emergency. Since the 1980s, pioneering laparoscopic approaches have revolutionised the procedure, resulting in lower post-operative infection rates. However, it is a versatile operation, with a little-known history that far pre-dates modern times