Role of diagnostic laparoscopy in recurrent vague abdominal pain

ABSTRACT

To determine the role of laparoscopy in the management of recurrent vague abdominal pain. Descriptive case series. Surgical Unit 1, Civil Hospital Karachi, from January 2005 to June 2007. All patients who presented with vague recurrent abdominal pain and underwent laparoscopic surgery to make a definitive diagnosis were included in the study. A total of 60 patients were managed. There were 36 [60%] females and 24 [40%] males. The mean age was 26 year [range 18-58 year]. The common mode of admission was out patient department [73.3%]. Fourteen [23.3%] patients presented with vague abdominal pain in lower Abdomen, followed by 12 [20%] with right lower abdominal pain and 12 [20%] with central pain radiating to right lower abdomen. Diagnosis was established in 56 [93.3%] patients. In 4 [6.6%] patients no pathology was found. The most common diagnosis was inflamed appendix in 18 [30%] patients followed by abdominal tuberculosis in 16 [26.6%] patients. Most [36.6%] of the patients stayed in hospital for 24 hours. There was no readmission and no major postoperative complications. Diagnostic laparoscopy in vague abdominal pain provided a higher diagnostic accuracy and improved treatment. It may be considered as first line operative investigation for undiagnosed vague abdominal pain