[Severe acute genital infections (Based on 100 cases). A clinical study and the contribution of laparoscopy (author's...

A continuous prospective series of 100 cases of severe acute genital infections which were collected over a period of 16 months at the Gynaecological and Obstetrical Clinic of the Saint Antoine Hospital has been studies using the same protocol. Analysing the history given by these patients before the onset of the illness shows how young they were and how frequently they were nulliparous, as well as the role of intra-uterine contraceptive devices. The correlation between the clinical features and those found on laparoscopy which was carried out almost routinely shows the great advantages of this examination. The authors in their discussion have tried, by analysing groups of symptoms, to show that to make an early correct diagnosis laparoscopy has to be used in a majority of cases. It allows treatment to be instituted quickly and unhesitatingly. Furthermore, it is justified because: It is necessary to find out all lesions that are present and which are unpredictable clinically. It renders it possible to carry out therapeutic manoeuvres (such as cutting adhesions and giving antibiotics locally) and to take swabs for bacteriological examination (this will be discussed in the second part of this article).