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Does transvaginal hydrolaparoscopy render standard diagnostic laparoscopy obsolete for unexplained infertility investigation?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasability of transvaginal hydrolaparoscopy in infertile patients undergoing basic infertility investigations, and to determine its usefulness in comparison with standard laparoscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-three unexplained infertile women were prospectively included. Selected patients had no history of pelvic disease or previous pelvic surgery and had normal findings on gynecological examination and vaginal sonography. The patients received general anesthesia and underwent the transvaginal hydrolaparoscopy immediately prior to a standard laparoscopy by a different operator. The main outcome measures were the rate of successful access to the pouch of Douglas, the duration of the procedure, and the rate of complications. In order to compare the accuracy of the transvaginal hydrolaparoscopy to the standard laparoscopy, findings in terms of tubal pathology, endometriosis, and adhesions were analyzed. RESULTS: The successful rate of access to the pouch of Douglas was 95.7%. The rate of complications was 4.3%. The mean duration of the transvaginal hydrolaparoscopy procedure was 8 min. The concordance between transvaginal hydrolaparoscopy and laparoscopy for pelvic cavity examination was statistically significant (k=0.57, P=0.02). In 40.9% of cases, the transvaginal hydrolaparoscopy procedure has shown a normal pelvic examination confirmed by laparoscopic diagnosis. According to the findings by laparoscopy, transvaginal hydrolaparoscopic diagnosis was correlated well in 81.8% of cases. When transvaginal hydrolaparoscopy showed pathological findings, there were no normal laparoscopies. Pathological laparoscopies were found in 18.2% of the normal transvaginal hydrolaparoscopies. CONCLUSION: The transvaginal hydrolaparoscopy is a reproducible and safe method to investigate the pelvis and its structures. The diagnostic accuracy of the transvaginal hydrolaparoscopy suggests that more than 40% of standard laparoscopies for unexplained infertility could be avoided.

Adult↗

Laparoscopy and laparoscopic ultrasound for staging of upper gastrointestinal tumours.

Conventional imaging studies are often not sensitive enough to allow accurate preoperative staging of intra-abdominal tumour spread. Laparoscopy and laparoscopic ultrasound appear to be suitable to improve staging of gastrointestinal tumors. Within a 10-month period 40 patients with upper GI tract cancer underwent laparoscopy for intra-abdominal staging. Additionally laparoscopic ultrasound was performed on 20 of these patients using a flexible echo-endoscope equipped with a curved array transducer (5/7.5 MHz). By laparoscopy additional information compared to conventional staging was obtained in 16 patients (40%). Laparoscopy revealed peritoneal carcinomatosis and liver metastases in seven and four patients, respectively. M1-lymph nodes were detected in four patients. Laparoscopic ultrasound was able to image otherwise inaccessible regions of the abdominal cavity and induced a change of staging in seven of 20 patients in whom laparoscopy was uneventful. Ultrasound also proved to be valuable for localization of M1-lymph nodes. In summary, combination of laparoscopy and laparoscopic ultrasound improved staging in 23 of 40 patients (57%). Consequently surgery was abandoned in 16 patients due to incurable or non-resectable disease, while down-staging occurred in seven patients, who subsequently underwent resection. Laparoscopy is capable of improving staging of intra-abdominal malignancy by detection and subsequent biopsy of small lesions. Laparoscopic ultrasound can replace the lack of tactile sensitivity in laparoscopy, thus enabling the detection of non-superficial lesions.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗

Operative laparoscopy in gynaecological oncology.

Initial reports on the role of laparoscopy in gynaecological malignancies have centred around staging procedures. Laparoscopic lymphadenectomy, both pelvic and para-aortic, appears to be feasible and adequate. It appears that laparoscopy may play an important role in reviving the radical vaginal hysterectomy for patients with early cervical cancer. Similarly, an abdominal incision may be avoided in patients with early endometrial carcinoma by employing laparoscopic staging with vaginal hysterectomy. The role laparoscopy will play in ovarian cancer is still to be defined, and laparoscopic advocates must be cautious in this subset of patients. However, for those gynaecological oncologists employing second-look procedures, it appears that beginning with laparoscopy may make laparotomy unnecessary in the majority of patients. Survival data for patients with gynaecological malignancies managed using laparoscopy in lieu of laparotomy are still lacking. It is imperative that survival is not compromised by employing a new surgical technique. Cost data comparing laparoscopy to laparotomy in our subspeciality is unavailable. This increasingly important aspect of medical care may influence the future of laparoscopy. These and other important issues need to be addressed by future trials before the role of laparoscopy in gynaecological oncology can be determined.

Endometrial Neoplasms↗

A rural, community-based program can train surgical residents in advanced laparoscopy.

BACKGROUND: Advanced laparoscopy requires mastery of complex surgical skills. A steep learning curve, lack of an adequate number of cases, and a shortage of experienced staff are reasons cited as barriers to the acquisition of these skills by surgical residents. We hypothesize that advanced laparoscopy can be taught during residency without additional fellowship training. STUDY DESIGN: ast surgical residents who completed training at our rural, community-based, 140-bed hospital from 1992 to 2000 were contacted by mailed surveys and a followup telephone interview. Advanced laparoscopy was defined as cases other than cholecystectomy, appendectomy, and diagnostic laparoscopy. Five attending surgeons routinely perform advanced laparoscopy. RESULTS: The response rate to the survey was 93.3% with 15 of 18 graduates currently practicing general surgery and 100% of the surgeons performing advanced laparoscopy. Laparoscopic herniorrhaphy, splenectomy, colectomy, Nissen fundoplication, and adrenalectomy were performed by 12 (85.7%), 10 (71.4%), 11 (78.6%), 13 (92.9%), and 9 (64.3%) surgeons, respectively. Eight (57.1%) surgeons reported confidence to perform advanced laparoscopy immediately after residency. All graduating chief residents from the last 3 years expressed this confidence. On average each of two chief residents from the past 3 academic years graduated with 99 basic and 50 advanced laparoscopic cases. CONCLUSIONS: A rural, community-based program can train residents to perform advanced laparoscopy. Increasing the volume of advanced cases handled by resident correlates with increasing confidence in graduates.

Adrenalectomy↗

Computed tomography and laparoscopy in the assessment of the patient with pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND: In most patients with pancreatic cancer, the tumor is unresectable. Nonoperative methods for palliation of jaundice, duodenal obstruction, and pain currently are being developed. Preoperative assessment of resectability of the tumor is becoming more and more important to avoid unnecessary operations. The aim of this study was to compare computed tomography (CT) and laparoscopy with special reference to the additive role of the latter technique in predicting unresectability of pancreatic cancers. STUDY DESIGN: Sixty patients with exocrine pancreatic cancer were assessed prospectively with both CT and laparoscopy. On the basis of metastatic spread or signs of vascular involvement, the radiologist and the laparoscopist independently reported the tumors as probably unresectable or resectable. RESULTS: The predictive value for unresectability was 100% for both CT and laparoscopy. Sensitivity in predicting unresectability was 69% for both techniques, and the corresponding figure for specificity was 100%. When CT and laparoscopy were evaluated together, an improvement in sensitivity to 87% was observed (p < 0.05). Separately, CT and laparoscopy correctly predicted resectability in only 30% and 38% of the patients, respectively. The presence of liver metastases was overlooked by CT in 13 of 32 patients (40%). Every fourth patient who was found to have unresectable tumor at CT was falsely classified as resectable by the laparoscopist, leading to unnecessary laparotomies. On the other hand, 9 of 24 patients (38%) with resectable disease at CT were deemed unresectable at the subsequent laparoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopy and CT independently and reliably predicted unresectability of pancreatic cancer, but the methods were inaccurate in forecasting resectability. The results suggest that CT examination should be done in patients who are candidates for attempted curative surgical procedures, whereas laparoscopy should be restricted to Those Judged resectable at CT.

Humans↗

Interventions to improve cardiopulmonary hemodynamics during laparoscopy in a porcine sepsis model.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopy is increasingly used in severely ill and acutely septic patients. In animals undergoing laparoscopy, the hemodynamic response to sepsis is blunted. Specific interventions to augment the hemodynamic potential may make laparoscopic intervention a safer alternative in septic patients. We compared different interventions to improve hemodynamic performance during exploratory laparoscopy in a porcine endotoxic shock model. STUDY DESIGN: Domestic pigs (n = 12) received intravenous lipopolysaccharide injection and underwent surgical abdominal exploration using either laparoscopy or conventional laparotomy. For comparison, pigs exposed to endotoxin underwent laparoscopy with these interventions: intravenous infusions of prostacyclin (n = 5) or indomethacin (n = 4), intravenous crystalloid resuscitation (n = 5), pulmonary hyperventilation (n = 4), or abdominal insufflation with air (n = 5). Hemodynamic measurements and blood gas analyses were obtained using Swan-Ganz and arterial catheters. RESULTS: Septic animals treated with prostacyclin undergoing laparoscopy had a higher cardiac index (CI, p < 0.01), stroke volume (SV; p < 0.001) and oxygen delivery (p < 0.05) than the untreated group. Likewise, treatment with indomethacin was associated with a higher CI (p < 0.001), SV (p < 0.005), and oxygen delivery (p < 0.005) compared with the untreated group. These effects may be secondary to a decreased pulmonary vascular resistance, demonstrated in the animals that received either prostacyclin (p < 0.05) or indomethacin (p < 0.05). In addition, animals given aggressive fluid resuscitation had a significantly higher CI (p < 0.05) and SV (p < 0.001) than those with normal fluid resuscitation during laparoscopy. Manipulation of arterial pH by insufflation of the abdomen with air to create the pneumoperitoneum, or by aggressively hyperventilating the animals, did not improve CI. CONCLUSIONS: Adverse effects of laparoscopy on cardiovascular hemodynamics in the septic state may be mediated by increased pulmonary vascular resistance, diminished venous return, or both. Specific interventions to reverse these variables may ameliorate hemodynamic changes seen.

Analysis of Variance↗

[Complications of laparoscopy in gynecology].

In the field of surgery the development of operative laparoscopy has been one of the most important steps forward over the past fifteen years. This technique has become the surgical treatment of choice for a number of indications in gynaecology. The advantages of laparoscopy as compared with laparotomy are weil known, and assessment of the risk of complications is essential. A multicentric study was carried out in seven top French centres for laparoscopic gynaecological surgery. This series runs over a period of nine years and covers 29,966 diagnostic and operative laparoscopies. The risk of complications has been assessed according to the complexity of the laparoscopic procedure in question. The means of diagnosis and treatment of the complications have been analysed together with the importance of the surgeon's degree of experience. The mortality rate is 3.33 per hundred thousand laparoscopies. The overall complication rate is 4.64 per thousand laparoscopies (139 cases). The rate of complications requiring laparotomy is 3.20 per thousand (96 cases). The complication rate is significantly correlated with the complexity of the laparoscopic procedure (p = 0.0001). One out of three complications (34.1%; 43 cases) occurred while setting up for laparoscopy, and one out of four complications (28.6%) were not diagnosed during the operation. As new indications for laparoscopic surgery in gynaecology have appeared, there has been a parallel and statistically significant increase in the rate of urological complications (p = 0.001). Increased experience of the surgeons has had three consequences: a statistically significant drop in the number of bowel injuries (p = 0.0003), a drop in the rate of complications requiring laparotomy for those laparoscopic surgical procedures which are weil-defined (p = 0.01) and a change in the way complications are treated, with a significant increase in the proportion of incidents treated by laparoscopy (p = 0.0001). Laparoscopic surgery is a reliable technique. The risk of complications exists whatever the indication for laparoscopy. None of the phases in the operation must be neglected. The risk of accidents being overlooked means that the methods for postoperative follow-up must be adapted, bearing in mind the shorter hospital stay. The part played by the surgeon's experience raises the major problem of practitioner training.

Female↗

The psychological effects of laparoscopy on women with chronic pelvic pain.

BACKGROUND: Many women who undergo diagnostic laparoscopy for chronic pelvic pain do not have pelvic pathology. This has led to an interest in psychological factors that might contribute to their experience of pain. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of diagnostic laparoscopy on women with chronic pelvic pain and to explore possible psychological mechanisms. METHODS: Seventy-one women undergoing laparoscopy for chronic pelvic pain were randomly allocated to one of two groups waiting different lengths of time for laparoscopy. Women were interviewed before laparoscopy and were followed up 1 week, 3 months and 6 months afterwards. Pain was assessed with an interview measure, diaries and visual analogue scales. RESULTS: Pain reductions were observed from before to after diagnostic laparoscopy. Regression analysis was used to identify factors which predicted improvements in pain. The hypothesis that psychological factors would predict improvements in pain was confirmed. Pain improvements after laparoscopy were predicted by beliefs about pain and the change in each woman's evaluation of the seriousness of her condition. Other than baseline pain, these psychological variables were the only ones to emerge as predictors of pain change despite exploratory analysis of over 40 other variables. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostic laparoscopy can have beneficial effects in women with chronic pelvic pain. These effects appear to be the result of psychological mechanisms. Further investigation of these mechanisms could help in the understanding and treatment of women with chronic pelvic pain.

Adolescent↗

Perioperative morbidity of gynecological laparoscopy. A prospective monocenter observational study.

BACKGROUND: To study the morbidity rate of gynecological laparoscopy and to the most influential variables. METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational study from January 1st 1992 to December 31st 1998 in a single tertiary care center. It concerned patients who underwent gynecological laparoscopic surgery performed by seniors and residents. We have prospectively recorded patients characteristics, indications for laparoscopy, leading diagnosis, main operative procedures, post-operative course, surgical and anesthetic incidents and accidents. Complications were defined as any event that would modify the usual course of laparoscopy or of the post-operative period. RESULTS: One thousand and thirty-three laparoscopies were included. 80.1% of the procedures were major or advanced laparoscopies. The overall complication rate was 3%, with a laparotomy rate of 1.2%. About half of those complications (54.8%) occurred during the installation of laparoscopy. Veress needle and first trocar insertion accounted for 23.5% of those accidents (0.3% of the procedures) and suprapubic trocar insertion for 76.5%. Hemorrhages constituted almost all of the complications occurring during the operative stage (80%). The risk increased with the level of surgery and decreased with surgeon's experience. Prior abdominal surgery had no significant effect on the overall morbidity rate. Post-operative and anesthetic complications were rare. The overall complication rate as well as the laparotomy rate were stable all along the course of the study. CONCLUSIONS: Complication rate of gynecological laparoscopy is not negligible. Efforts should be made to lower the complications induced by the installation of laparoscopy, especially for secondary trocars.

Adolescent↗

Laparoscopy in the staging of pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND: Over the past decade, laparoscopy has emerged as a popular method of detecting extrapancreatic metastatic disease in patients presumed to have localized pancreatic cancer. METHODS AND RESULTS: The English language literature on laparoscopic staging of pancreatic cancer was reviewed. Interpretation of this literature on staging laparoscopy is difficult because (1) there has been inconsistent use of high-quality computed tomography (CT) in prospective studies, (2) many studies have included patients with locally advanced disease, and (3) the R0/R1/R2 resection rates among patients staged by laparoscopy have not been reported, making it impossible to correlate laparoscopic findings with the R0 resection rate. Laparoscopy may prevent unnecessary laparotomy in a proportion of CT-staged patients presumed to have resectable pancreatic cancer. However, routine laparoscopy is performed on patients judged to have resectable disease by high-quality CT, this fraction of patients is between 4 and 13 per cent. CONCLUSION: When state-of-the-art CT is available, the routine use of staging laparoscopy may not be easily justified from the data in the recent literature. Selective use of laparoscopy may be more appropriate and will probably be a more cost-effective staging approach. Criteria are presented for the selective use of laparoscopy in the staging of patients with localized pancreatic cancer.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗

Peritoneal macrophage activity after laparoscopy or laparotomy.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The beneficial effect of laparoscopy on the immune system seems not to be present at the peritoneal level at which the local immunity appears to be impaired by CO2. The aim of this study was to investigate the peritoneal macrophages (MPhis) activity after laparoscopy and laparotomy. METHODS: Thirty rats (300 to 350 g) were used and divided into 3 groups. In the laparotomy group, the peritoneum was opened and the abdominal wall exposed to air for 60'. In the laparoscopy group, pneumoperitoneum was created and maintained at 4 to 6 mm Hg for 60'. In the control group, anaesthesia was maintained for 60' without any other manipulations. Twenty-four hours after operation, peritoneal MPhis were harvested and cultured. The authors investigated nitrite/nitrate (NOx) production as well as the message for the inducible nitric oxide (iNOS), with the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction under basal condition and after Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. RESULTS: Basal MPhi NOx release was significantly higher after laparoscopy than either after laparotomy or control. LPS stimulation produced a strong increase in NOx production in laparotomy MPhis and control MPhis. In contrast, the increase in NOx production was markedly reduced in MPhi harvested after laparoscopy. Similar results were obtained for macrophage mRNA for iNOS; indeed, the increase in iNOS mRNA after LPS stimulation was blunted severely in MPhi from laparoscopy group. CONCLUSIONS: MPhis after laparoscopy display an higher basal immune performance. After a second insult (LPS), they display a state of tolerance or desensitisation (blunted NOx production and reduced mRNA expression). This observation could have important implications in considering laparoscopy in patients with malignancy or sepsis.

Animals↗

Umbilical pyloromyotomy--an alternative to laparoscopy?

AIMS: To evaluate the utility of umbilical pyloromyotomy for infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) compared to published series promoting laparoscopy. METHODS: Eighty-six babies with IHPS had pyloromyotomy using an umbilical skin fold incision. Operating times, post-operative hospital stay and cosmetic appearance of the umbilical wound were studied. Data extracted from recent series promoting laparoscopy were identified using a MEDLINE search strategy and used for comparative analysis. RESULTS: Mean operating time for umbilical pyloromyotomy was 30 min (range 15-50 min). All patients went home at an average period of 58 h (range 48-72 h) following surgery. The umbilical scar was barely visible in the post-operative period. Laparoscopic pyloromyotomy operating times ranging from 18-41 min (mean overall 30 min) are recorded in the literature. Post-operative stay following laparoscopy has been variable (23-91 h), where reported. In contrast with umbilical pyloromyotomy, "pox" marks observed following port insertions for laparoscopy can give an unsightly scar. CONCLUSIONS: This study has found that umbilical pyloromyotomy can be performed with minimal morbidity and equivalent operating times to laparoscopy. The shorter hospital stay reported in some series promoting laparoscopy must be balanced against local practice influencing hospital stay, the financial implications of offering a laparoscopic service, the skills needed for laparoscopy, and the short learning curve required by paediatric surgical trainees to become proficient at umbilical pyloromyotomy. The cosmesis of the umbilical incision is excellent. These findings suggest that umbilical pyloromyotomy is a reliable alternative to laparoscopy.

Humans↗

Effect of laparotomy and laparoscopy on the establishment of lung metastasis in a murine model.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic surgery is now applied to patients with gastrointestinal cancer. In animal studies, extraperitoneal tumor growth has been significantly less after laparoscopy than after laparotomy, but whether hematogenous metastasis occurs less frequently after laparoscopy is unknown. The aim of this study was to compare the frequency and growth of lung metastasis and serum levels of IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in mice treated by laparotomy and in mice treated by laparoscopy. METHODS: We used 182 male BALB/c mice. Colon 26 cancer cells (5 x 10(4)) were injected into the tail vein, and the mice were assigned to a laparotomy group (3-cm laparotomy), a laparoscopy group (carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum at 6 to 8 mm Hg for 30 minutes), or a control group. Lung weight, number of lung metastases, and serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-alpha were measured and compared among the 3 groups. RESULTS: The lung weight and number of metastases on the lung surface and cut section in the laparotomy group (0.44+/-0.21 g, 55.7+/-46.7, 23.0+/-19.0) were significantly larger than those in the laparoscopy group (0.32+/-0.15 g, 29.9+/- 25.5, 13.1+/-9.9) or the control group (0.28+/-0.13, 29.3+/-26.2, 11.1+/-11.1). Three hours after the procedures, the serum level of IL-6 was significantly higher in the laparotomy group (1353 +/- 790 pg/mL) than in the laparoscopy group (671+/-353 pg/mL) or the control group (333+/-341 pg/mL). The lung weight, number of lung metastases, and levels of IL-6 and TNF-alpha were not different between the laparoscopy and control groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that, although laparotomy accelerates tumor metastasis to the lung in this murine model, laparoscopy does not increase the frequency and growth of lung metastasis. The laparoscopic approach may suppress hematogenous metastasis to the lung because of decreased surgical stress and reduced cytokine response.

Animals↗

Impact of laparoscopy with carbon dioxide versus helium on local and systemic inflammation in an animal model of peritonitis.

Increased intraperitoneal pressure and insufflation of carbon dioxide during laparoscopy may cause sepsis by promoting systemic inflammation in patients with intra-abdominal inflammatory diseases. The influence of carbon dioxide and helium during laparoscopy on bacteremia, endotoxemia, the plasma concentration of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), TNF-alpha secretion ex vivo by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and intraperitoneal abscess formation was investigated in an animal model. A standardized fecal inoculum was injected intraperitoneally, and rats underwent laparoscopy with either carbon dioxide (N = 20) or helium (N = 20) or no further manipulation (control group; N = 20). Bacteremia was significantly more common 1 hour after laparoscopy with CO2 than in animals receiving helium or the control group. Furthermore, helium use led to a significant decrease of bacteremia 1 week after intervention. Fecal inoculation caused significant leukocytopenia in all groups within 1 hour after intervention, with complete recovery only in the helium-treated group (p < 0.05). The TNF-alpha plasma concentration was significantly lower in the helium-treated group, and suppression of ex vivo production recovered only in the animals undergoing laparoscopy with helium (p < 0.05). The number of intraperitoneal abscesses was significantly lower after laparoscopy with helium (2+/-1.5) than after CO2 laparoscopy (6.3+/-5.1) or in the control group (5.2+/-4.8). Laparoscopy with CO2 increased systemic inflammation only slightly, while helium use was associated with a significant lower incidence of bacteremia and local and systemic inflammation compared with the control group.

Abscess↗

Transvaginal hydrolaparoscopy compared with laparoscopy for the evaluation of infertile women: a prospective comparative blind study.

Standard diagnostic laparoscopy is considered the gold standard to investigate tubo-peritoneal infertility. It requires general anaesthesia and full operative facilities. Due to the risk of complications, laparoscopy is frequently postponed to the final stage of infertility evaluation or even after treatment trials have failed. Transvaginal hydrolaparoscopy (THL) is based on vaginal access using a needle puncture technique and saline for distention. THL can be performed on an outpatient basis under local anaesthesia. However, little data exist concerning the accuracy of THL in comparison with laparoscopy. We conducted a prospective comparative blind trial to assess the feasibility and accuracy of THL compared with diagnostic laparoscopy in infertile women. Sixty women were assigned to undergo THL immediately prior to laparoscopy. Different operators evaluated the findings of the two procedures. In order to evaluate the accuracy of THL, findings in terms of tubal pathology, endometriosis and adhesions were analysed. The success rate of accessing the pouch of Douglas was 90.2%. Complication rate was 1.6%. THL diagnosis was correlated with that of laparoscopy in 92.3% of cases. In cases of abnormal findings by THL, there were no normal laparoscopies. Our pilot study suggests that THL is a safe and reproducible method. Retroverted uterus should be considered as a relative contraindication to THL. When a complete evaluation by THL is available, it is a highly accurate technique in comparison with the laparoscopy.

Adult↗

Superior staging of liver tumors with laparoscopy and laparoscopic ultrasound.

OBJECTIVE: The authors describe the technique of staging laparoscopy with laparoscopic contact ultrasonography in the preoperative assessment of patients with liver tumors, and assess its impact on the selection of patients for hepatic resection with curative intent. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Laparoscopy may be useful in the selection of patients with a variety of intra-abdominal malignancies for operative intervention. Laparoscopic ultrasonography is a new technique that combines the principles of high resolution intraoperative contact ultrasound with those of the laparoscopic examination, and thus, allows the laparoscopist to perform detailed assessment of the liver. METHODS: This study analyzes a cohort of 50 consecutive patients who were diagnosed as having potentially resectable liver tumors, and in whom staging laparoscopy was successfully undertaken. Laparoscopic ultrasonography was performed in 43 patients, and the impact of the ensuing findings on the decision to proceed to operative assessment of resectability is examined. The resectability rate in those patients assessed laparoscopically and subsequently submitted to laparotomy is compared with a preceding group of patients in whom no laparoscopic assessment was performed. RESULTS: Laparoscopy demonstrated factors precluding curative resection in 23 patients (46%). Laparoscopic ultrasonography identified liver tumors not visible during laparoscopy in 14 patients (33%), and provided staging information in addition to that derived from laparoscopy alone in 18/43 patients (42%). The resectability rate was significantly higher among those patients undergoing laparoscopic staging (93%) compared with those in whom operative assessment was undertaken without laparoscopy (58%). CONCLUSIONS: Staging laparoscopy with laparoscopic ultrasonography optimizes patient selection for liver resection with curative intent.

Adult↗

The influence of diagnostic and therapeutic laparoscopy on patients presenting with an acute abdomen.

The role of laparoscopy in the management of patients presenting to one surgical firm with an acute abdomen is discussed. Sixty-seven laparoscopies have been performed over an 18 month period and it has altered the diagnosis in 19.4% of cases and the management in 13.4% of cases. At laparoscopy the diagnosis of appendicitis was made in 37 patients (81% had attempted laparoscopic appendicectomies); pelvic inflammatory disease in 15 patients; torted fimbrial cyst in two patients; and free pus in the right lower peritoneum as a result of a perforated appendix was seen in two patients. Normal laparoscopy was performed in five patients and four patients who presented with a perforated duodenal ulcer had the diagnosis confirmed at laparoscopy, in three cases the perforation was oversewn laparoscopically. Two laparoscopies were performed on trauma patients; one stabbing and one blunt trauma to the right hypochondrium. It has been demonstrated that diagnostic laparoscopy is a useful adjunct to the general surgeon's armamentarium. It is suggested that the skill of laparoscopy is passed on to junior trainee surgeons who can use this technique to help attain a diagnosis in patients presenting with an acute abdomen.

Abdomen, Acute↗

[Association of laparoscopy and bone marrow biopsy in the staging of small-cell undifferentiated carcinoma of the lung. Evaluation of 116 consecutive cases].

116 consecutive patients with small cell anaplastic carcinoma of the lung had laparoscopy with multiple liver biopsies and bone marrow biopsy, performed as a staging procedure. Bone marrow biopsy was positive in 13 patients (11.2%); no significant rise in percent was seen when bilateral specimens were obtained. Laparoscopy was positive in 17 patients (14.6%); one patient had extrahepatic involvement only. Liver scan did not show high correlation with laparoscopy: 6 patients out of 11 had negative liver scan with metastases demonstrated at laparoscopy. Only 6 patients had laparoscopy positive along with bone marrow biopsy (5.1%). At determination of the stage, 12 patients out of 78 (15.3%), with apparently localized disease had diffuse disease after the two procedures. Laparoscopy and bone marrow biopsy were positive in 12 patients out of 38 (31.5%), when the disease was diffuse at diagnosis. 7 patients had liver metastases at diagnosis, which were excluded after laparoscopy. Laparoscopy and bone marrow remain valuable procedures in assessing stage in small cell anaplastic carcinoma of the lung, because of their high rate of stage modifications due to their combined employment at diagnosis.

Adolescent↗