ABSTRACT
The incision must be planned to provide optimal exposure for the surgeon whilst minimizing abdominal muscle damage. In a modern environment it is unusual to operate on a patient who is not stable, and the surgeon is able to place greater emphasis on the cosmetic aspects of the incision than was possible in the past. An incision that has been correctly sited does not need to be unduly long. Nonetheless, common reasons for a surgeon to experience difficulty are inadequate exposure due to an incision that is too small, poor retraction by the assistant, poor lighting, and inadequate muscle relaxation.
