["Surgical" laparoscopy indications and value]

From 1971-1973, 1046 patients underwent laparoscopy in the gynecological department; 256 of the cases were surgical problems. In contrast to gastroenterological laparoscopy, surgical laparoscopy was performed in the operating room under general anaesthesia and everything prepared for immediate surgery. Major surgical interventions--if necessary--were performed immediately after laparoscopy. Indications for surgical laparoscopy were the following: preoperative evaluation of nature, extent and eventual metastases of tumors. Preoperative differentiation of acute and chronic appendicitis from other affections, particularly in younger female patients. Suspected intraabdominal hemorrhage of traumatic or non-traumatic origin. Evaluation of pathological palpatory findings in the abdominal cavity. Differential diagnosis of chronic relapsing intraabdominal complaints of unknown origin. Differential diagnosis of putrid, tuberculous or carcinomatous peritonitis with eventual biopsy. Preoperative evaluation of questions concerning surgery of liver, gallbladder or pancreas in connection with occlusive jaundice, hepatic cirrhosis or malignancy. The results of this study show, that by laparoscopy in over 50% of the patients, major surgical interventions could be avoided. Contraindications were primarily limited to pulmonal or cardiac insufficiency. The only complication (intestinal perforation), was adequately dealt with under the given operative conditions.