Accuracy Of Diagnostic Laparoscopy Research Articles

Feasibility and safety of laparoscopy in acute non-traumatic emergency abdominal surgery: A prospective study

Introduction: The use of laparoscopy in emergency abdominal surgery is considered high-risk due to its elevated morbidity, requiring expertise in laparoscopic surgery. Objective: Assessing the feasibility, reproducibility, and safety of laparoscopy in non-traumatic acute abdominal surgery. Methods: Descriptive, prospective and evaluative study, conducted between February 2018 and October 2021. We have included in this study: acute appendicitis and its complications, lithiasis acute cholecystitis (LAC), peritonitis by perforation of peptic ulcer, adhesive acute intestinal obstruction, adnexal torsion, extra-uterine pregnancies, and non-specific acute abdominal pain. Results: We operated on 337 patients laparoscopically, with an average of 02 surgeries per medical shift. In 62.6%, surgeries were performed outside of regular working hours. We encountered temporary, material, and human difficulties in 10.8% of the cases. Average age of the patients is 38 years ±15 years. F/H sex ratio =1.29. Diagnostic accuracy of laparoscopy was 100 %. Intraoperative laparoscopic scanning corrected the preoperative diagnosis in 15.73% of cases. Average operative time was 52.09 min ± 24.14 min. One conversion recorded (0.3%). Rate of postoperative complications was 6.2%. These complications are classified at grade I according to the Clavien-Dindo classification in 85.71%. Only one patient (0.3%) required a second operation. Average length of overall hospitalization was 1.5 days. Conclusion: Our results suggest that emergency laparoscopy is feasible, safe, and reproducible. So it can claim to replace laparotomy in the management of acute, non-traumatic abdominal emergencies.

The role of diagnostic laparoscopy versus ultrasonography and computerized tomography abdomen for chronic/recurrent right iliac fossa pain

Background: Chronic right iliac fossa pain (RIF) is a grey area in surgery. No guidelines are available on the best therapeutic approach. Published data are sparse and limited to small series. Objective of this study was to study the role of diagnostic laparoscopy in chronic / recurrent right iliac fossa pain and to study role of diagnostic laparoscopy versus ultrasonography and computerized tomography abdomen for chronic/recurrent right iliac fossa painMethods: This study was conducted in fifty patients with a history of right iliac fossa pain for duration of three or more months. Each patient was subjected to USG and CT scan. Their findings were compared with findings of diagnostic laparoscopy.Results: Diagnostic accuracy of USG in detecting chronic appendicitis and intra-abdominal pathology as a cause of chronic/recurrent right iliac fossa pain was 66% with sensitivity 75%, specificity 60% and 46% with sensitivity 39.5%, specificity 85.5%. Diagnostic accuracy of CT in detecting chronic appendicitis and intra-abdominal pathology as a cause of chronic/recurrent right iliac fossa pain was 88% with sensitivity 80%, specificity 93.33% and 46% with sensitivity 41.86%, specificity 71.43%. The accuracy of diagnostic laparoscopy in diagnosing chronic/recurrent Appendicitis was 96% with sensitivity 95%; specificity 96.67%; PPV 95%; NPV 96.67%. The overall accuracy of diagnostic laparoscopy in diagnosing chronic/recurrent right iliac fossa pain was 96% with sensitivity 97.67%; specificity 85.71%; PPV 97.67%; NPV 85.71%.Conclusions: CT is better than USG in diagnosing various intra-abdominal pathologies as causes of chronic/recurrent right iliac fossa pain. More ever, it was evident that diagnostic laparoscopy is even better than the above mentioned modalities.

Diagnostic aspects of closed abdominal injuries

Aim. To study diagnostic value of various diagnostic methods for patients with closed abdominal injury, to develop a diagnostic algorithm to make a reasonable conclusion about the amount and severity of injuries of the abdomen.Methods. Various diagnostic methods used in closed abdominal injuries from 120 patients admitted to Surgical Department №2 of Kazan city clinical hospital №7 from 2007 to 2015 were analyzed. Majority of victims (65%) with closed abdominal trauma were males aged 20 to 50 years.Results. Efficiency of diagnostic program for patients with closed abdominal injury used in clinical practice was studied. In a closed abdominal trauma, injury of abdominal organs was detected in 52.5% of patients. 71.4% of those injuries were isolated and 28.6% were concomitant. According to frequency of injuries liver took the first place 15 (23.8%), followed by spleen on the second place (14; 22.2%) and kidneys (12; 19.1%) and intestine (12; 19.1%) on the third, bladder on the fourth (7; 11.1%), and pancreas on the fifth place (3; 4.8%). Importance of radiological methods and laparoscopy was demonstrated. Clinical examination and laboratory diagnostic techniques allow making a timely diagnosis in only 40% of victims. Informativity of radiologic study was 64%. The accuracy of ultrasound in damaged kidneys was 100%, that in rupture of liver was 72%, of spleen, 69%, and of the intestine (0%). Diagnostic accuracy of laparoscopy was 98.9%.Conclusion. Experience and extensive acquaintance with modern literature allowed the authors to present the algorithm of examination of patients with suspected closed abdominal trauma.

Diagnostic accuracy of laparoscopy following computed tomography (CT) scanning for assessing the resectability with curative intent in pancreatic and periampullary cancer.

Surgical resection is the only potentially curative treatment for pancreatic and periampullary cancer. A considerable proportion of patients undergo unnecessary laparotomy because of underestimation of the extent of the cancer on computed tomography (CT) scanning. Laparoscopy can detect metastases not visualised on CT scanning, enabling better assessment of the spread of cancer (staging of cancer). This is an update to a previous Cochrane Review published in 2013 evaluating the role of diagnostic laparoscopy in assessing the resectability with curative intent in people with pancreatic and periampullary cancer. To determine the diagnostic accuracy of diagnostic laparoscopy performed as an add-on test to CT scanning in the assessment of curative resectability in pancreatic and periampullary cancer. We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE via PubMed, EMBASE via OvidSP (from inception to 15 May 2016), and Science Citation Index Expanded (from 1980 to 15 May 2016). We included diagnostic accuracy studies of diagnostic laparoscopy in people with potentially resectable pancreatic and periampullary cancer on CT scan, where confirmation of liver or peritoneal involvement was by histopathological examination of suspicious (liver or peritoneal) lesions obtained at diagnostic laparoscopy or laparotomy. We accepted any criteria of resectability used in the studies. We included studies irrespective of language, publication status, or study design (prospective or retrospective). We excluded case-control studies. Two review authors independently performed data extraction and quality assessment using the QUADAS-2 tool. The specificity of diagnostic laparoscopy in all studies was 1 because there were no false positives since laparoscopy and the reference standard are one and the same if histological examination after diagnostic laparoscopy is positive. The sensitivities were therefore meta-analysed using a univariate random-effects logistic regression model. The probability of unresectability in people who had a negative laparoscopy (post-test probability for people with a negative test result) was calculated using the median probability of unresectability (pre-test probability) from the included studies, and the negative likelihood ratio derived from the model (specificity of 1 assumed). The difference between the pre-test and post-test probabilities gave the overall added value of diagnostic laparoscopy compared to the standard practice of CT scan staging alone. We included 16 studies with a total of 1146 participants in the meta-analysis. Only one study including 52 participants had a low risk of bias and low applicability concern in the patient selection domain. The median pre-test probability of unresectable disease after CT scanning across studies was 41.4% (that is 41 out of 100 participants who had resectable cancer after CT scan were found to have unresectable disease on laparotomy). The summary sensitivity of diagnostic laparoscopy was 64.4% (95% confidence interval (CI) 50.1% to 76.6%). Assuming a pre-test probability of 41.4%, the post-test probability of unresectable disease for participants with a negative test result was 0.20 (95% CI 0.15 to 0.27). This indicates that if a person is said to have resectable disease after diagnostic laparoscopy and CT scan, there is a 20% probability that their cancer will be unresectable compared to a 41% probability for those receiving CT alone.A subgroup analysis of people with pancreatic cancer gave a summary sensitivity of 67.9% (95% CI 41.1% to 86.5%). The post-test probability of unresectable disease after being considered resectable on both CT and diagnostic laparoscopy was 18% compared to 40.0% for those receiving CT alone. Diagnostic laparoscopy may decrease the rate of unnecessary laparotomy in people with pancreatic and periampullary cancer found to have resectable disease on CT scan. On average, using diagnostic laparoscopy with biopsy and histopathological confirmation of suspicious lesions prior to laparotomy would avoid 21 unnecessary laparotomies in 100 people in whom resection of cancer with curative intent is planned.

Diagnostic Laparoscopy with Ultrasound Still Has a Role in the Staging of Pancreatic Cancer: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Background. The reported incidence of noncurative laparotomies for pancreatic cancer using standard imaging (SI) techniques for staging remains high. The objectives of this study are to determine the diagnostic accuracy of diagnostic laparoscopy with ultrasound (DLUS) in assessing resectability of pancreatic tumors. Study Design. We systematically searched the literature for prospective studies investigating the accuracy of DLUS in determining resectability of pancreatic tumors. Results. 104 studies were initially identified and 19 prospective studies (1,573 patients) were included. DLUS correctly predicted resectability in 79% compared to 55% for SI. DLUS prevented noncurative laparotomies in 33%. Of those, the most frequent DLUS findings precluding resection were liver metastases, vascular involvement, and peritoneal metastases. DLUS had a morbidity rate of 0.8% with no mortalities. DLUS remained superior to SI when analyzing studies published only in the last five years (100% versus 81%), enrolling patients after the year 2000 (74% versus 58%), or comparing DLUS to modern multidimensional CT (100% versus 78%). Conclusion. DLUS seems to still have a role in the preoperative staging of pancreatic cancer. With its ability to detect liver metastases, vascular involvement, and peritoneal metastases, the use of DLUS leads to less noncurative laparotomies.

Value of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Laparoscopy for Abdominal Stab Wounds: Reply

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the use of laparoscopy for the diagnosis and treatment for hemodynamically stable patients with abdominal stab wounds. We conducted a retrospective cohort study to compare the outcomes of 86 hemodynamically stable patients with suspected intra-abdominal injuries from abdominal stab wounds who underwent either exploratory laparotomy or diagnostic laparoscopy. Thirty-eight patients (group A) were treated before the adoption of laparoscopy as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool for abdominal stabbing injuries at our hospital, and 48 patients (group B) were treated after. Demographic information, injury severity, operative findings, rates of nontherapeutic interventions, operation time, length of hospital stay, and morbidity of the two groups were evaluated. There was no difference in the demographics and injury severity between the two groups. Laparoscopy decreased the nontherapeutic laparotomy rate from 57.9% in group A to 0% in group B (P < 0.001). The accuracy of diagnostic laparoscopy was 100% in group B. Patients in group B had a significantly shorter hospital stay (5.0 days versus 9.9 days; P < 0.001) and shorter operation time (90.7 min vs. 118.7 min; P = 0.019) than group A. For patients in group B with significant intra-abdominal injuries, therapeutic laparoscopy was successfully performed in 16 of 17 patients (94.1%), treating a total of 22 intra-abdominal injuries. Laparoscopy is feasible and safe for the diagnosis and treatment of hemodynamically stable patients with abdominal stab wounds. It can reduce the nontherapeutic laparotomy rate and shorten the length of hospital stay.

Diagnostic laparoscopy in the era of modern imaging—retrospective analysis from a single center

A retrospective analysis of utility and outcomes of diagnostic laparoscopy at our center in the last 5 years was done. In the last 5 years, we subjected 90 patients to diagnostic laparoscopy (DL) when final diagnosis could not be achieved after all necessary imaging methods and serological, cytological, and microbiological investigations. DL was performed under sedation and local anesthesia, and patients were discharged within 24 h. Video documentation along with guided biopsies/collection of the samples for culture and other tests was performed. The commonest indication was ascites (46/90), followed by diffuse liver disease (15), focal liver disease (9), intraabdominal malignancies (10), and miscellaneous (10). Overall accuracy of DL was 91 %. In 64 % of patients, laparoscopy confirmed the clinical diagnosis, and in 27 % of patients, laparoscopy was useful in correcting the diagnosis. DL was performed in 46 patients with low-serum ascitic fluid albumin gradient ascites and ascites of mixed etiology. DL confirmed the suspected diagnosis in 48 %, corrected in 38 %, and yielded unsuspected diagnosis in 15 % patients. In 6 % of patients, laparoscopy was inconclusive. In three patients, there were extensive intraperitoneal adhesions, and adequate examination was not possible. No serious complications were encountered. Minor complications of pain at the port site, ascitic fluid leakage, and port site infection were seen in three, two, and one patient, respectively. DL is useful in patients when diagnosis and extent of the disease were unclear especially in ascites of undetermined etiology.

Use of laparoscopy as an alternative to computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET) scans for the detection of recurrence in patients with gastric cancer: a pilot study

This study aimed to evaluate laparoscopy as a diagnostic method for detecting recurrence in patients with advanced gastric cancer. Diagnostic laparoscopy was performed for 12 patients with insufficient evidence of intraabdominal gastric cancer recurrence by computed tomography or positron emission tomography. By comparing laparoscopic observations with conventional radiologic results, the diagnostic accuracy of laparoscopy was assessed. In 11 (92%) of 12 cases of recurrence not diagnosed by imaging studies, laparoscopic examination confirmed the case as a recurrence. Using diagnostic laparoscopy, retroperitoneal lymph node recurrence was confirmed in two patients, peritoneal seeding nodules in five patients, and recurrent masses invading the mesocolon in two patients. Two patients had no definitive recurrence grossly but were confirmed as recurrence cases by washing cytology during the laparoscopic procedure. One patient had a duodenal stump recurrence. No patients experienced operation-related morbidity. Laparoscopy is a safe and feasible method for detecting recurrence with acceptable accuracy. This approach provides more accurate information than conventional imaging methods.

Value of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Laparoscopy for Abdominal Stab Wounds

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the use of laparoscopy for the diagnosis and treatment for hemodynamically stable patients with abdominal stab wounds. We conducted a retrospective cohort study to compare the outcomes of 86 hemodynamically stable patients with suspected intra-abdominal injuries from abdominal stab wounds who underwent either exploratory laparotomy or diagnostic laparoscopy. Thirty-eight patients (group A) were treated before the adoption of laparoscopy as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool for abdominal stabbing injuries at our hospital, and 48 patients (group B) were treated after. Demographic information, injury severity, operative findings, rates of nontherapeutic interventions, operation time, length of hospital stay, and morbidity of the two groups were evaluated. There was no difference in the demographics and injury severity between the two groups. Laparoscopy decreased the nontherapeutic laparotomy rate from 57.9% in group A to 0% in group B (P < 0.001). The accuracy of diagnostic laparoscopy was 100% in group B. Patients in group B had a significantly shorter hospital stay (5.0 days versus 9.9 days; P < 0.001) and shorter operation time (90.7 min vs. 118.7 min; P = 0.019) than group A. For patients in group B with significant intra-abdominal injuries, therapeutic laparoscopy was successfully performed in 16 of 17 patients (94.1%), treating a total of 22 intra-abdominal injuries. Laparoscopy is feasible and safe for the diagnosis and treatment of hemodynamically stable patients with abdominal stab wounds. It can reduce the nontherapeutic laparotomy rate and shorten the length of hospital stay.

031 Diagnostic accuracy of laparoscopy for endometriosis: evaluation of visual diagnosis and histological findings: a step towards ‘see & treat management’

031 Diagnostic accuracy of laparoscopy for endometriosis: evaluation of visual diagnosis and histological findings: a step towards ‘see & treat management’

Laparoscopic management of acute small bowel obstruction

As minimally invasive surgery gains ground, it is entering realms previously considered to be relative contraindications for laparoscopy. We reviewed our experience with the laparoscopic approach to the management of small bowel obstruction (SBO). From December 1997 to November 2002, 65 patients underwent laparoscopic treatment for SBO. The operating surgeon attempted to identify a transitional point between distended and collapsed bowel and then address the obstruction at that point. Postoperative adhesions were the cause of the obstruction in 44 patients. Tumor was identified in five cases, hernia in four, bezoar in three, intussusception in three, acute appendicitis and pseudoobstruction in two cases each, and terminal ileitis in one case. The diagnostic accuracy of laparoscopy was 96.9%. Thirty-four patients (52%) were treated by laparoscopy alone. Thirteen patients (20%) required a small target incision for segmental resection. Eighteen operations were converted to formal laparotomy. The mean laparoscopy time was 40 min (range, 25-160). Patients resumed oral intake in 1-3 days. The complication rate was 6.4%. There were two deaths, but none related to laparoscopy. The mean hospital stay was 4.2 days. Laparoscopy is a useful minimally invasive technique for the management of acute SBO. It is an excellent diagnostic tool and, in most cases, a therapeutic surgical approach in patients with SBO. However, a significant number of patients will require conversion.

Diagnostic accuracy of laparoscopy, magnetic resonance imaging, and histopathologic examination for the detection of endometriosis

Objective To evaluate the utility of fat-suppressed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of endometriosis. Design A prospective clinical trial. Setting A government research hospital. Patient(s) Forty-eight women with pelvic pain. Intervention(s) Magnetic resonance imaging followed by surgical excision and pathologic diagnosis of endometriosis. Main outcome measure(s) Presence and extent of endometriosis suggested by preoperative MRIs compared with surgical inspection and biopsy. Result(s) A preoperative MRI in 46 women detected fewer endometriosis lesions than histopathology or laparoscopy (78 vs. 101 vs. 150). Few MRI lesions correlated with those identified by laparoscopy (50 of 150) or pathology (38 of 101). Of 42 women with surgically diagnosed endometriosis, 28 had at least one corresponding abnormality on MRI, 5 had abnormalities that didn’t correlate with surgical findings, and 9 had normal MRIs. The sensitivity of MRI in detecting biopsy-proven endometriosis for any woman was 69% (25 of 36), and the specificity was 75%. Conclusion(s) Although MRI identifies fewer areas of endometriosis than seen at surgery, it suggested endometriosis in 75% of those with at least mild disease. Only 67% of lesions identified at surgery contained histologic evidence of endometriosis.

The feasibility and accuracy of diagnostic laparoscopy in the septic ICU patient.

Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and sepsis of unknown origin are common complications of critically ill patients in the ICU. These patients frequently have unreliable clinical exams and are candidates for exploratory laparotomy. Although abdominal CT is commonly used because it is less invasive than laparotomy, it is often unreliable or unobtainable. Bedside laparoscopy is an alternative technique that may be more accurate than CT in selected patients and less invasive than laparotomy. We performed diagnostic laparoscopy (DL) in a series of ICU patients with SIRS/septic state of unknown origin between May 1997 and June 1998. All patients were unstable and required significant respiratory and hemodynamic support. Laparoscopy was either performed in the ICU at the patient's bedside or in the operating room. CT scan of the abdomen had been performed on most of the patients who were stable enough to transport. Confirmation of diagnosis was obtained either by laparotomy, autopsy, or clinical recovery. Among the 17 eligible patients, 16 underwent successful DL. Insufflation was impossible in one patient because of high intraabdominal pressure. Bedside evaluations were performed in 14 of the 17 patients. There were no complications from the laparoscopy. Six patients were identified as positive (four intestinal ischemia, two cholecystitis); the other 10 had negative explorations. Follow-up on two patients with negative laparoscopy was incomplete due to denied postmortem. Laparoscopic diagnoses were confirmed in the remaining 14 patients by laparotomy (six cases), postmortem (three cases), or recovery (five cases), with an accuracy of 100%. The overall accuracy of abdominal CT obtained in nine of the 14 patients was 33%. DL in a select group of critical ICU patients is safe and accurate, whereas CT scan tends to be inaccurate and is often unobtainable due to patient instability. Performing the procedure at the bedside can expedite the diagnosis, eliminate the burden for transfer, and save on anesthesia and operating room charges.

Laparoscopy in the Evaluation of Abdominal Stab Wounds

A retrospective study was designed to compare the accuracy and potential advantages of laparoscopy vs. laparotomy in the management of abdominal stab wounds. Thirty-five patients with abdominal stab wounds and scheduled for abdominal surgical exploration based on clinical evaluation were included. Hemodynamically unstable patients were excluded from the evaluation, laparotomy being performed immediately. Laparotomy was performed in 18 and laparoscopy in 17 patients. Penetrating wounds were observed in 65% of the patients (66.6% for laparotomy and 64.7% for laparoscopy). The diagnostic accuracy of laparoscopy was 100%, and laparotomy 89%. Four patients operated on by laparoscopy were converted to laparotomy (22%): in 2 patients to ascertain the origin of hemorrhage, and in 2 patients to suture a bowel laceration. No mortality was noted. Morbidity was observed in 4 patients managed by laparotomy: delirium tremens; pulmonary infection; missed small bowel injury, and stress bleeding ulcus. The postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter for the patients explored by laparoscopy than for those explored by laparotomy (5.6 vs. 10.2 days, p = 0.02). We conclude that laparoscopy is a safe and accurate method for the evaluation of abdominal stab wounds. It avoids unnecessary laparotomy in 78% of cases. It led to less morbidity and shorter hospital stay than laparotomy. Further evaluation is required to determine the potential to treat major acute lesions by laparoscopy.

Laparoscopic stapler appendectomy. A prospective study of 267 consecutive cases.

The value of laparoscopic appendectomy remains controversial. Therefore, we investigated the accuracy of diagnostic laparoscopy in detecting acute appendicitis and tested the applicability and safety of stapling appendectomy as a routine procedure. Data from 267 consecutive patients with suspicion of acute appendicitis were recorded prospectively. Histopathological examination revealed nonperforated and perforated appendicitis in 63.3% and 13.1%, respectively, and no inflammation in 10.8%. Other pathological findings were observed in 12.7%. Diagnostic laparoscopy detected appendicitis with a sensitivity and specificity of 95.6% and 96.6%, respectively; the positive and negative predictive value were 99.5% and 74.3%, respectively. Morbidity was 10.2% in total and 40% for perforated appendicitis. Planned laparoscopic reexploration reduced morbidity by 23.4% in patients with perforated appendicitis and substantial peritonitis. Mortality was 0.4%. Laparoscopy improves diagnostic accuracy for acute appendicitis and laparoscopic stapling appendectomy is a safe and efficient procedure for all forms of appendicitis.

Laparoscopic evaluation of penetrating thoracoabdominal traumatic injuries

General surgeons' recent familiarity with advanced laparoscopic techniques have rendered laparoscopy feasible safely in the trauma setting. Traditionally high rates of nontherapeutic laparotomies also contribute to this increased interest. This study was undertaken to determine the predictive value and accuracy of diagnostic laparoscopy (DL) in evaluation of penetrating thoracoabdominal trauma. Entry criteria included thoracoabdominal gunshot (GSW) or stab wounds (SW) in otherwise hemodynamically stable patients. A high index of suspicion for either hemoperitoneum, peritonitis, or diaphragmatic injury was required for inclusion. All patients underwent DL in the operating room followed by standard laparotomy. The findings of the two evaluations were compared. Twenty-four patients were included in the study. Twenty males and 4 females with an average age of 34 years made up the group. Violation of the peritoneal cavity was present in 21 cases and absent in 3. No intraabdominal injuries were found during laparotomy in the latter three cases without peritoneal violation. The specificity and positive predictive value were 100% for lesions of the diaphragm, liver, spleen, pancreas, kidney, and hollow viscus. The sensitivity was highest for liver and spleen injuries (88%), followed by diaphragmatic injuries (83%), pancreas and kidney injuries (50%), and lowest for injuries of hollow viscus (25%). The negative predictive value was 95, 99, 91, and 57%, respectively, for these organs. DL could have avoided unnecessary laparotomy in 38% of cases in this study. There were no complications related to laparoscopy. The greatest value of DL in penetrating thoracoabdominal injuries is in the evaluation of peritoneal violation, diaphragmatic, and upper abdominal solid-organ injuries. It is not ideal for predicting hollow viscus injuries.

A CRITICAL EVALUATION OF LAPAROSCOPY IN PENETRATING ABDOMINAL TRAUMA

One hundred hemodynamically stable patients with penetrating abdominal trauma (65, stab wounds, 35, gunshot wounds) were evaluated with laparoscopy. Sixty percent of the patients had wounds in the thoracoabdominal area or the upper abdominal quadrants and 25% had injuries located in the lower abdomen and flanks. Fifteen percent had epigastric wounds. Twenty-two stabs and 21 gunshots had not penetrated the peritoneum (negative laparoscopic results). Fifty-seven patients had peritoneal penetration and were noted to have hemoperitoneum only (n = 14), hemoperitoneum and solid organ injuries (n = 23), diaphragmatic lacerations (n = 17), and hollow viscus injuries (n = 2) on laparoscopic examination. Three of the 57 patients, one with omental herniation only and two with low grade nonbleeding lacerations of the liver, were managed uneventfully without laparotomy. The remaining 54 patients underwent laparotomy with confirmation of the laparoscopic findings. Seven patients (three with stab wounds and four with gunshots) had additional GI tract injuries seen at laparotomy. The diagnostic accuracy of laparoscopy was excellent for hemoperitoneum, solid organ injuries, diaphragmatic lacerations, and retroperitoneal hematomas. For GI injuries, laparoscopy was found to have a 100% specificity but only a 18% sensitivity. The majority of these discordant findings occurred in epigastric SWs and flank and lower quadrant GSWs, all in patients with undetected hollow viscus injuries. The major role of laparoscopy in penetrating abdominal trauma is in avoiding unnecessary laparotomy in tangential SWs and GSWs. It is excellent for evaluating the diaphragm in thoracoabdominal wounds. Caution is urged in excluding hollow viscus injuries based on laparoscopy.

Laparoscopy for pre-operative staging and assessment of operability in gastric carcinoma

Laparoscopy was performed in 40 patients with gastric carcinoma, whose lesions were otherwise considered amenable to operation, in order to more accurately stage the disease and ascertain the prospect of resectability. Laparoscopy disclosed hitherto unrecognized distant metastases in 5 cases (12.5%) and locally advanced, unresectable neoplasia in 11 cases (27.5%). Thus, laparoscopy served as a basis for avoiding the burden of futile laparotomy in 16 patients (40%). Laparoscopy confirmed the feasibility of resection in 24 patients, and this finding was borne out in 20 of 23 patients surgically explored (87%). The overall diagnostic accuracy of laparoscopy was 91.6%. Laparoscopy was performed in these patients with no mortality or morbidity. We conclude that laparoscopy is an effective means of evaluating resectability of gastric carcinomas and can provide valuable help in planning surgical approach.

Diagnostic accuracy of laparoscopy in the detection of liver metastases. A prospective study

Diagnostic accuracy of laparoscopy in the detection of liver metastases. A prospective study