[Laparoscopy in intra-abdominal infection. Its diagnostic value and therapeutic possibilities]

In 550 patients with the clinical features of acute abdomen a surgical laparoscopy was performed. In 121 cases there was found an unspecific reason of the acute abdominal disease that did not require surgical therapy. In 349 cases a regional peritonitis was found, 80 times a diffuse peritonitis. The diagnostic validity of laparoscopy was 96% as compared to 42% for sonography. The laparoscopic access resulted in a complication rate of 0.2%. In 239 cases (43%) the disease could be managed laparoscopically, 190 cases (35%) required open surgery.