Elective and emergent laparoscopy.

Although laparoscopy has been received enthusiastically by gastroenterologists, mainly in Europe, over the past four decades, its usefulness in surgery has been ill-defined or neglected. Gynecologists recognized the value and included laparoscopy as one of the most important diagnostic and therapeutic tools for pelvic pathology. After the introduction of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, several thousand surgeons were trained in laparoscopic techniques. Laparoscopy allows direct visualization of abdominal organs and the parietal peritoneum. It permits a safe target biopsy under precise visual control. The practical value of laparoscopy is the observation of lesions that would not be discovered by other investigations and the ability to assess the dissemination of malignant disease and its operability. Hence many unnecessary explorations are avoided. Diagnostic laparoscopy has a high overall diagnostic yield, has an excellent safety record in the hands of a well trained operator, and is cost-effective. Minilaparoscopy in the emergent (blunt abdominal) trauma case gives the surgeon a much larger latitude for decision making than does diagnostic peritoneal lavage. Emergency minilaparoscopy has been performed in 150 trauma patients and has accurately predicted the need for laparotomy in all but one patient (0.7%). No major complications have occurred as a result of minilaparoscopy in this setting. A large number of emergency laparotomies in the multiorgan-injured or high-risk case can be avoided. Minilaparoscopy may be useful also in the elderly patient with an equivocal abdominal examination but suspicion of visceral injury.