Laparoscopy in Colon, Panama.

The results of 486 laparoscopic procedures are reported. 70.3% of the procedures were for the purpose of sterilization and 27.9% were performed for fertility studies and diagnostic purposes. There were 3 pregnancies following 342 sterilization procedures. Laparoscopic diagnosis uncovered various contributing causes to abdominal pain: pelvic variocele, ovarian cysts of difficult palpation, uterine myomas, and adherent tissues with endometriosis. There was 1 case of puncture of the inferior vena cava and 2 cases of abscess of the abdominal wall. Preoperative and operative procedures are briefly described.