THE ROLE OF LAPAROSCOPY IN CHRONIC AND RECURRENT ABDOMINAL-PAIN

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to determine the efficacy of lapar oscopy on patients with a history of recurrent and chronic abdominal p ain longer than 3 months, of unknown origin. METHODS: From September 1 990 to May 1994, we performed 66 laparoscopic treatments on 59 patient s. The assessment of life quality ensured the disability score, the Mc Gill pain questionnaire, and the visual analogue pain scale, which wer e completed preoperatively, then on the day of discharge, and finally at a mean period follow-up of 75.3 weeks. Laparoscopy provided diagnos is on 53 of 59 patients (89.8%). RESULTS: All 66 attempted laparoscopi c procedures were completed successfully, no conversion to laparotomy was necessary, and no postoperative complication occurred. Five out of 59 patients (8.5%) revealed no improvement of pain postoperatively, a nd 6 out of 56 (10.7%) still suffer from pain at the time of the follo w-up. CONCLUSIONS: The pain assessment and disability score was statis tically significant postoperatively and at the time of the follow-up i n relation to the preoperative score.