[Protocol drafting of laparotomy in the diagnosis of the cause of fever of unknown origin].

Eighteen patients with fever of unknown origin in whom other diagnostic procedures had failed, underwent exploratory laparotomy with splenectomy, hepatic biopsies and biopsies of lymph nodes, muscle and bone, while bile, urine and intestinal content were cultured. In all patients, inspection and palpation of abdominal cavity doesn't give any diagnostic orientation. With histologic examination and cultures, precise diagnosis was made in 13 cases (72 per cent). Predominant diagnosis was Hodgkin's disease. One patient died with complications of surgery.