When would a upper midline vertical incision be required to extend for more exposure?

Answer 1

if you've perforated the liver and need to repair it.

Answer 2

Used to remove Appendix after GJ is done fast. Or to extend the area for direct inspection . Accessibility , Extendability and Safety are the crieteria of a good surgical incision.
And as usual Pangolin is faster in answering.

Answer 3

If you can't see or reach what you need, then you need to lengthen the incision.

While a longer incision leaves a longer scar, a 6 inch incision heals just as fast as a 3 inch incision does.

Answer 4

If the surgeons can't see or reach what they need to operate on. It's more common to have to do that in heavy patients because of the extra tissue getting in the way.

It also may be required if the surgeon finds something he/she didn't expect to find, like a tumor that's bigger than it appeared on imaging studies.

Answer 5

When doing an "exploratory" or laparotomy surgery to really see what is going on. For example pain and fever not yet diagnosed. Also for open heart surgery.