Evaluation of role of laparoscopy in chronic abdominal pain

Abstract

Background and Aim : Chronic abdominal pain is a difficult complaint. It leads to evident suffering and disability, both physically and psychologically. Many diagnostic and therapeutic procedures have been described in literature, but with little proof or evidence of success. Patients with chronic abdominal pain can undergo numerous diagnostic tests with little change in their pain. Laparoscopy is one of the modalities that could be of benefit in such cases. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of performing diagnostic and therapeutic laparoscopy in patients with chronic abdominal pain for longer than 12 weeks. Materials and Methods : Thirty Five patients with chronic abdominal pain were included in this prospective descriptive cross-sectional study. The pain in all patients was of unclear etiology despite all the investigative procedures. All patients were subjected to laparoscopic evaluation for their conditions. The findings and outcomes of the laparoscopy were recorded and analyzed. Results : A total of 35 patients (26 women and 9 men) with an mean age of 34yrs underwent diagnostic laparoscopy for the evaluation and treatment of chronic abdominal pain. The average length of time with pain was 32.96 weeks (range 12-30). Findings included abdominal Koch's in 11patients, appendicitis in 10 patients, cholecystitis in 1patient , cirrhosis in 1; ovarian cyst in 2, adhesions in 2 patients, mesenteric lymphadenopathy in 2 and 6 patients had no obvious pathology. 81.8% of patients had pain relief at the time of follow up. Conclusion : Laparoscopy is an effective diagnostic and therapeutic modality in the management of patients with chronic abdominal pain.