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The role of diagnostic laparoscopy for chronic abdominal conditions: an evidence-based review
W S Richardson1, D Stefanidis, L Chang
1Department of Surgery, Ochsner Clinic, New Orleans, LA, USA. wrichardson@ochsner.org
Background:
Diagnostic laparoscopy is minimally invasive surgery for the diagnosis of intraabdominal diseases. The aim of this review is a critical examination of the available literature on the role of laparoscopy for chronic intraabdominal conditions.
Methods:
A systematic literature search of English-language articles on MEDLINE, the Cochrane database of evidence-based reviews, and the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects was performed for the period 1995-2006. The level of evidence in the identified articles was graded. The search identified and reviewed six main categories that have received attention in the literature: pelvic pain and endometriosis, primary and secondary infertility, nonpalpable testis, and liver disease.
Results:
The indications, contraindications, risks, benefits, diagnostic accuracy of the procedure, and its associated morbidity are discussed.
Conclusions:
The limitations of the available literature are highlighted, and evidence-based recommendations for the use of laparoscopy to stage intraabdominal cancers are provided.
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