Incisieplaats

Incisieplaats is a Dutch medical term that denotes the precise location where an incision is or will be made during a surgical procedure. It is central to preoperative planning and operative documentation, serving as a reference point for exposure, tissue handling, and postoperative assessment. The term emphasizes the localization of access to target structures while seeking to minimize damage to adjacent anatomy and optimize cosmetic outcomes.

During planning, the surgeon integrates patient-specific factors such as anatomy, prior surgeries, scarring, obesity, and comorbidities, along with the intended surgical approach. The planned incision site is chosen to provide adequate viewing and working space for the procedure, facilitate safe dissection, and reduce postoperative pain and recovery time. Intraoperatively, the incision may be modified if anatomic findings or safety concerns arise, and the final incision is recorded as the incisieplaats in the operative notes.

Common examples include the midline abdominal incision for general abdominal operations, the Pfannenstiel incision in gynecologic surgery, Kocher or subcostal incisions for upper abdominal access, and thoracotomy or sternotomy approaches for chest procedures. The incisieplaats is a planning concept also used in education and imaging, where landmarks and measurements help ensure consistent and reproducible access.

In case of complications or reoperation, the incisieplaats is revisited to assess whether wound healing, infection, or organ injury may be related to incision location.