title: Diagnostic laparoscopy.
abstract: Diagnostic laparoscopy is a powerful tool in the surgeon's armamentarium when used appropriately. There is a low complication rate and high diagnostic sensitivity. In addition to conventional operating room procedures, this technique can be applied in a variety of other settings, often without general anesthesia. Many patients can be spared invasive nontherapeutic laparotomies particularly in the area of trauma and cancer diagnosis. The surgeon must become a superior visual anatomist in order to be able to take maximum advantage of this technique.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, New England Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA.
authors.forename: Steven D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Schwaitzberg
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000473:pathology; D001706:Biopsy; D006555:Hernia, Ventral / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D020706:Laparoscopes; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008099:Liver / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D010388:Pelvis / Q000473:pathology*