The value of laparoscopy in the diagnosis of acute pelvic inflammatory disease.

A total of 40 patients with acute pelvic inflammatory disease (acute PID) were examined over a period of 7 months to determine the diagnostic value of laparoscopic examination in these cases. The most important findings were: the clinical diagnosis of acute PID was confirmed by laparoscopy in 55% of patients; laparoscopy was especially of value in differentiating potentially lethal conditions such as ectopic pregnancy and acute appendicitis from acute PID in 15% of patients; laparoscopically obtained microbiological specimens provide a more accurate means of determining the microbiological aetiology of acute PID than vaginally obtained specimens.