title: [Preoperative laparoscopic evaluation of patients with upper gastrointestinal cancer].
abstract: Nineteen consecutive patients with adenocarcinoma of the stomach or pancreas, in whom preoperative ultrasonography and computed tomography were unable to assess the possibility of surgical resection, had a diagnostic laparoscopy performed. In 16 cases the operability could be established from the findings at laparoscopy. All laparoscopies were carried out without major morbidity and with a short postoperative hospital stay. It is concluded that patients belonging to this category should have a diagnostic laparoscopy performed in order to avoid futile laparotomies, which in cases that are unsuitable for surgical treatment are associated with emotional stress, physical morbidity and a prolonged hospital stay.
authors.affiliation: Odense Universitetshospital, kirurgisk afdeling A.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Madsen
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Mortensen
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Hovendal
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies
vernacular_title: Laparoskopisk operabilitetsvurdering af patienter med øvre gastrointestinal cancer.