OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to analize the efficacy of laparoscopy in cases of acute inflamatory abdomen of difficult diagnosis, according to accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and negative and positive predictive values. METHODS: The authors studied, prospectively, 29 patients with clinical suspicion of inflamatory acute abdomen, that, after inconclusive clinical and complemental investigations were submitted to diagnostic and / or therapeutic laparoscopy. RESULTS: In 96,5 % of the patients the procedure confirmed the diagnosis; 58,6 % of the patients were treated by laparoscopy, 6,8% by laparotomy and 34,4% received clinical treatment. The complication rate was 10,3 %, with no mortality in this study. Patients treated by laparoscopy were discharged from hospital in 36 hours after the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopy proved to be a good diagnostic and therapeutic method in acute inflamatory diseases of the abdomen and is associated with lower hospitalization time and lower rate of complications.
Acute, abdomen; Laparoscopy; Diagnostic techniques, surgical
