LAPAROSCOPY FOR MANAGEMENT OF NONTRAUMATIC ACUTE ABDOMEN

The diagnostic and therapeutic influence of laparoscopy has been studi ed in 255 patients presenting with nontraumatic acute abdominal pain. Laparoscopy provided a correct diagnosis in 93% (236 of 255) of the ca ses, the others requiring a laparotomy. An erroneous preoperative diag nosis was corrected by laparoscopy in 50 patients (20%), which called for a change of treatment in 25 patients (10%), Seventy-three percent (186 of 255) of acute abdominal conditions were treated exclusively by laparoscopy, 23% (58 of 255) by conventional surgery, and 4% (11 of 2 55) by laparoscopically assisted surgery. Mortality was 2% (5 of 247) and morbidity 11% (28 of 247), We conclude that laparoscopy is a valua ble tool for the general surgeon facing a patient with an acute abdome n.