second-look operation

second-look operation,

a second operation performed within 24 hours of the first to ensure that the first was sufficient and that no further debridement is needed. It is common in cases in which ascertaining whether the bowel is dead or ischemic during the first operation is difficult.

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'second-look' operation

A 2^nd surgical procedure in the same site as a previous operation, often abdominal, with the intent of continuing therapy that could not be completed for various reasons during the 1^st operation General surgery An operation to re-examine questionably viable segments of small intestine 24-48 hrs after an initial massive resection for ischemia, with the hope that enough small intestine–at least 30% remains viable, thereby circumventing 'short bowel syndrome'. See Short bowel syndrome Gynecologic oncology A laparotomy for advanced and presumably inoperable ovarian CA, which was later re-examined to determine whether RT and/or chemotherapy is successful in reducing tumor size to allow debulking surgery, or determine whether RT and/or chemotherapy may be discontinued or requires modification Surgical oncology SLOs are performed in colons previously resected for adenoCA and monitored by CEA levels; an ↑ of CEA > 35% above the Pt's established baseline suggests metastastatic recurrence; at operation, <¹⁄₂ are resectable. See Debulking operation.