[Surgical laparoscopy in acute abdomen]

Area of Science:

• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Surgical Decision Making

Context:

• Acute abdominal pain and symptoms of acute abdomen are common clinical presentations.
• Diagnostic challenges exist in identifying the precise cause of acute abdominal conditions.
• Traditional diagnostic methods like sonography and X-ray have limitations in accuracy.

Purpose:

• To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of laparoscopy in patients presenting with acute abdominal pain.
• To compare the diagnostic accuracy of laparoscopy with sonography and X-ray.
• To assess the impact of laparoscopy on surgical management, including the avoidance of unnecessary laparotomies.

Summary:

• Laparoscopy provided a clear diagnosis in 96% of 582 patients with acute abdominal pain, significantly outperforming sonography (42%) and X-ray (25%).
• The procedure helped avoid unnecessary laparotomies, such as appendectomies, in 134 cases (22%).
• Laparoscopic surgery was feasible in 42% of cases, while 36% ultimately required laparotomy.

Impact:

• Laparoscopy enhances diagnostic precision in acute abdominal emergencies.
• It facilitates minimally invasive surgical treatment and reduces the rate of open surgery.
• Improved diagnostic accuracy and targeted surgical intervention can lead to better patient outcomes and resource utilization.