Our Laparoscopic Experience in Management of Chronic Abdominal Pain: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Background:Laparoscopic and endoscopic surgery are currently worldwide surgical procedures. Laparoscopic surgery in particularis a minimal invasive surgery. The rapid evolution of laparoscopic surgical subspeciality have introduced it into a wide range of clinical applications regarding diagnosis and/or therapy of remarkable spectrum of diseases. Laparoscopy, in optimal circumstances , enables excellent visualization of the abdominal cavity. Accordingly, it has been practiced in this study to assess and/or treat cases of chronic abdominal pain.Objectives :This study tries to evaluate the significance of adopting laparoscopy in the management of patients with chronic abdominal pain in Al-Hilla General Teaching Hospital.Methods :This is a cross-sectional case series study that had assessed (49) patients of an average age of (35)years complaining of chronic abdominal pain for the period 01/09/2008-01/09/2011. Postoperative follow-up was conducted for (12) months. All cases of known intra-abdominal malignancies were excluded from this study. All data were collected using a formed questionnaire by the worker and information were filled by the worker single handly.Results :Thirty-four patients ( 69 %) of the study group had previous abdominal or pelvic surgery. Thirty-five patients (71 %) showed intra-abdominal adhesions. Thirty-one patients (63 %) had underwent laparoscopic adhesiolysis while the remaining four cases had their adhesions kept undisturbed as they were considered to be insignificant. Three patients (6.1%) exhibited mesenteric lymphadenopathy which was discovered to be secondary to chronic upper respiratory tract infections. Two cases (4%) of unilaterl left-sided inguinal hernias were disclosed. One case (2%) of abnormally looking appendix was detected and managed by laparoscopic appendectomy. Eight Patients (16.3 %) showed complete normality on laparoscopy. Conclusion :With standard laparoscopic equipements , techniques and postoperative care laparoscopy is a safe, useful and more informative invasive investigation to evaluate and/or resolve the problem of chronic abdominal pain.