title: Laparoscopy in developing countries in the management of patients with an acute abdomen.
abstract: Surgeons in developing countries see a need to improve diagnosis and decision making in patients with an acute abdomen. Without the benefit of diagnostic aids such as computers and high-resolution ultrasonography, the rate of unnecessary laparotomy is often unacceptably high. The laparoscope is usually available in a developing country and its use easily acquired. Using laparoscopy in doubtful situations the unnecessary laparotomy rate was significantly reduced from 14.0 to 6 per cent (P < 0.05). Laparoscopy achieved a diagnostic accuracy of 86 per cent and prevented unnecessary laparotomy in 57 per cent of those in whom it was used.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Ogbonna
authors.forename: P O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Obekpa
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Momoh
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Obafunwa
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Nwana
mesh_terms: D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D003657:Decision Making; D003906:Developing Countries; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies