Nineteen women with acute lower abdominal pain of uncertain etiology u
nderwent diagnostic laparoscopy during a 2-year period from August 199
1 to August 1993 and were retrospectively reviewed. All patients, aged
12 to 44 years, were premenopausal. Laparoscopy provided definitive d
iagnosis in air 19 patients. Laparoscopic findings included appendicit
is (11 cases), pelvic inflammatory disease (five cases), significant o
varian cysts (two cases), and ectopic pregnancy (one case). Successful
laparoscopic procedures included appendectomy (five cases), and salpi
ngo-oophorectomy (one case). Five patients required only diagnostic la
paroscopy. Eight patients required conversion to an open procedure bec
ause of anatomical considerations (six cases) or equipment failure (tw
o cases). Median operative time was 71 min, and median postoperative h
ospital stay was 2 days. Most diagnostic procedures were performed on
the same day as admission, resulting in a median hospital stay of 3 da
ys. Diagnostic laparoscopy performed in premenopausal female patients
with acute lower abdominal pain of unknown etiology provides diagnosti
c accuracy as well as therapeutic capabilities and prevents unnecessar
y laparotomy.