title: Value of diagnostic laparoscopy in tuberculous peritonitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the safety and efficacy of diagnostic laparoscopy in patients with tuberculous peritonitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective clinical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital, Turkey.
  
  
  METHODS
  8 patients (2 women, 6 men; mean age 26 years) who presented with tuberculous peritonitis between January 1994 and January 1996.
  
  
  METHODS
  Laparoscopy under local anaesthesia with sedation (the 4 who presented with ascites) and laparotomy (the 4 who presented with an acute abdomen).
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical and laboratory findings, biochemical and microbiological analysis of ascites, histopathological examination of specimens, morbidity, and mortality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  4 patients presented with ascites, and 4 with adhesions. Ascites; adhesions between liver and diaphragm, liver and intestines, and intestines and the abdominal wall; miliary nodes on the peritoneal surface; and inflamed haemorrhagic areas on the peritoneum could all be seen at laparoscopy. One of the 8 patients who underwent laparotomy developed a spontaneous enterocutaneous fistula during the early postoperative period. Two of eight patients died, one of an early enterocutaneous fistula and the other of cor pulmonale 3 1/2 months later. The remaining 6 patients survived without complications after antituberculous medical treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopy is a safe and accurate method of diagnosis of tuberculous peritonitis.
authors: Department of Surgery, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty of Istanbul University, Turkey.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Apaydin
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Paksoy
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Bilir
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Zengin
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Saribeyoglu
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Taskin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D014395:Peritonitis, Tuberculous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies