Laparoscopy for the acute abdomen and trauma

Aims: The determining a value of algorythm of diagnostic and therapeutic laparoscopy (DL+LO) in handling suspected acute abdomen and abdominal trauma, in decision making and immediate further treatment. Materials and methods: A prospective study 120 DL and 79 LO for the acute abdominal pathology compared with the control group of 310 acute abdomen patients treated at the Department at the same time and not subjected to laparoscopy. Results: The accuracy of DL was: in qualifying for surgery 96%, in posing a diagnosis 89%. There were 3 (2.5%) false results and 9 (7.5%) inconclusive cases. DL was decisive in qualifying 79 (66%) for LO and avoiding unnecessary surgery in 17(14%) patients. LO interventions were completed by laparoscopy in 69(58%) cases, with morbidity 7(9%), mortality 2 (3%); (morbidity 25 (14%) and mortality 4 (2%) in the control group). Hospital stay, and convalescence period were shorter for LO interventions as compared with open surgery. Conclusions: The algorythm DL+LO deserves its place among modern methods for handling acute condition of the abdomen and abdominal trauma. It should improve the diagnosis and results of treatment in cases qualifying for laparoscopic surgery.