Laparoscopy in the management of pelvic pain in Calabar, Nigeria.

During the study period (July 1988 to June 1993), 707 laparoscopies were performed in the maternity annex of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital. Fifty-eight (8.2%) were for pelvic pain. Some of the cases of pelvic pain were laparoscoped only after failure of other investigative procedures and medical treatment. In 45 (77.6%) definitive diagnoses were made and 37 of these became asymptomatic after definitive treatment following the laparoscopy. Of the 12 (20.69%) with no detectable abnormalities, four became asymptomatic with explanation and reassurance. All the patients with unruptured and the two with ruptured ectopic pregnancy were managed without the need for blood transfusion. Most of the diagnostic laparoscopies were performed on a day-case basis. A complication rate of 1.7% was recorded. A more liberal use of the procedure in the investigation of pelvic pain in women is advocated.