Laparoscopy for the acute abdomen in the postoperative urologic patient

Objectives. Exploratory laparotomy offers the greatest diagnostic accuracy of intra-abdominal pathologic processes, but can be associated with significant morbidity. Laparoscopy provides diagnostic capabilities equivalent to that of open exploration, but with potentially less morbidity. We present 3 cases in which laparoscopy was used to diagnose and manage urologic patients with an acute abdomen in a postoperative period. Methods. Three patients underwent laparoscopy between 1 and 14 days postoperatively for an acute abdomen (fever, elevated white blood cell count, and peritoneal signs). The initial procedures included a pubovaginal sling repair with fascia lata, endoscopic placement of a percutaneous gastrostomy tube, and a laparoscopic ureterolithotomy for a distal stone. Results. In each of the 3 patients laparoscopy revealed misplacement or malfunction of a previously placed tube. In all cases, the patient was managed laparoscopically without the need for laparotomy. Conclusions. These cases demonstrate the feasibility of laparoscopy to provide diagnostic and therapeutic solutions to postoperative urologic patients presenting with an acute abdomen. (C) 1998, Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.