LAPAROSCOPY FOR CHRONIC ABDOMINAL-PAIN

Background: This purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the uti lity of laparoscopy in patients with chronic abdominal pain. Methods: A retrospective review was performed of 34 patients who underwent lapa roscopy for chronic abdominal pain. Average patient age was 39 years. The majority were women. Most had undergone abdominal surgery in the p ast. Results: All procedures were performed laparoscopically. A positi ve finding was made in 65% of patients. Fifty-six percent of patients underwent adhesiolysis, but 26% required no operative intervention oth er than laparoscopic exploration. Notably, 73% of patients reported im provement in pain postoperatively, whether or not a positive finding h ad been made on laparoscopy. Conclusions: This retrospective study sug gests laparoscopy can identify abnormal findings and improve outcome i n a majority of selected cases. Recommendations are provided for patie nt selection. Prior abdominal surgery is not an absolute contraindicat ion to laparoscopic exploration for chronic abdominal pain.