The correct response is to arrange for a colleague to update the family because the primary focus must remain on maintaining patient safety and surgical sterility during the operation. Leaving the operating room risks compromising the sterile field and disrupting the surgical team's concentration. Additionally, a designated team member communicating with the family ensures accurate, timely updates without jeopardizing intraoperative care. This approach balances the need for family support with the imperative of continuous, undistracted surgical attention.

Reference: Sabiston Textbook of Surgery, Townsend et al., 21st Edition.