The management of lower abdominal pain in young women carries up to 45% cha
nce of diagnostic error. Laparoscopic management may be particularly benefi
cial in this subset of patients. This study reviews the authors' experience
with laparoscopy as a potential diagnostic and therapeutic tool in young w
omen with lower abdominal pain. The authors analyzed 121 consecutive female
patients, with a mean age of 30 years, who were evaluated from June 1995 t
o October 1997. All patients were managed by early laparoscopy within 24 h
from the onset of symptoms. Radiographic imaging, including computed tomogr
aphy and ultrasound, was performed in 79 patients (65.2%). Laparoscopy was
diagnostic in all cases. In 58 patients (48%), multiple pathologic conditio
ns were identified. Acute appendicitis was the most common diagnosis (82.6%
), and benign gynecologic disorders was the predominant reason for multiple
pathologic conditions (clinical evaluation was erroneous in 15% of patient
s). In 96% of patients, definite surgical treatment was provided laparoscop
ically. The mean hospitalization time was 2.0 +/- 1 days, and the mean oper
ative time was 59.8 +/- 21 min. The overall complication rate was 2.5%. In
young women, early laparoscopy can offer a safe and effective alternative f
or the definite diagnosis and treatment of lower abdominal pain.