Role of diagnostic laparoscopy: a study of 58 patients

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the role of diagnostic laparoscopy in undiagnosed abdominal diseases. Prospective nonrandomized descriptive study. Fauji Foundation Hospital Rawalpindi, from l[st] January 2007 till 31[st] December, 2009. All the patients of undiagnosed intermittent or chronic pain abdomen and other pathologies presenting to the department of surgery who were candidates for laparoscopy were included in the study. Total of 58 patients [42 females and 16 males] were included in the study. Appendicular pathology, abdominal tuberculosis and pelvic inflammatory disease each was found in 8 patients [13.79%] and adhesions in 6 patients [10.33%]. Other less common pathologies included undescended intraabdominal testes, endometriosis, gall bladder pathology and mesenteric lymphadenopathy. In 14 patients [24.13%] no pathology was detected. Diagnostic laparoscopy is an important diagnostic tool in the armamentarium of surgeons which can be employed for diagnosis of obscure abdominal conditions. Where appropriate therapeutic measures if indicated can be adopted at the same time