Evisceration is the removal of the contents of the abdomen or eye. It can occur traumatically or in a therapeutic context. In the case of abdominal evisceration, also known as disembowelment, the material is usually only partially removed for examination and treatment, and the surgeon replaces it afterward. In the eye, a surgeon may perform surgery to remove the contents of the globe of the eye in a person with a severe non-responsive infection, or in certain other settings.
Historically, disembowelment was actually a form of torture and punishment. Removing the contents of the stomach cavity causes intense pain and eventually leads to death from shock and infection, and it was sometimes a gruesome and colorful addition to executions. Today, deliberate evisceration most commonly happens when a surgeon wants to thoroughly examine the bowels during a procedure.
Some reasons to remove the bowels can include checking for cancerous growths and lesions, looking for all sources of intestinal bleeds, and feeling the intestines for signs of necrotic tissue. If the surgeon identifies any issues, they can be treated immediately. Then, the bowels are gently packed back into the abdominal cavity. Full removal is extremely unusual; usually, the surgeon pulls out segments for examination and then replaces them. Removal of the viscera to access organs for harvesting is also a part of organ transplant procedures.
There is also a chance of experiencing evisceration as a result of trauma. Car accidents may open up the abdomen and expose the contents, requiring a surgeon to inspect, repair, and replace them. Additionally, sometimes patients experience a phenomenon called wound dehiscence after abdominal surgery, where the surgical incision opens up and the viscera may spill out, requiring emergency surgery to correct the problem.
In the case of procedures involving the eye, a patient with limited vision in one eye and severe pain, infections, or other problems may opt for evisceration or enucleation, where the whole eye is taken out. This procedure may require local or general anesthesia. After the patient heals, a prosthetic specialist can fit an aesthetic prosthesis to conceal the evidence of surgery, making patients feel more comfortable socially.
The term “evisceration” also comes up in a nonsurgical context. When people slaughter animals for human consumption, part of the process of handling the carcass includes removing the viscera and internal organs. Some may be eaten or used to make foods like sausages, while others may be discarded, depending on the animal and the processing facility.