LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY IN A MOBILE ARMY SURGICAL HOSPITAL DEPLOYED TO THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA

The 212th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital was deployed from a United Sta tes military base in Germany to the former Yugoslavia to provide medic al support for more than 25,000 United Nations soldiers. This medical unit was the first mobile hospital ever to deploy with a capability fo r laparoscopic surgery. During a 2-month trial period, seven laparosco pic procedures were performed for various abdominal emergencies. There were no complications, and all patients returned to full duty within 1 week. No equipment problems or other logistical obstacles were ident ified. This preliminary report suggests that laparoscopic surgery is q uite feasible in a forward-deployed field hospital, allowing combat so ldiers to return to full duty in a much shorter time than after conven tional surgery.