INDICATIONS, CONTRAINDICATIONS AND COMPLICATIONS OF LAPAROSCOPY

The primary use of laparoscopy is as a surgical tool, with sterilizations being the overwhelming indication. The laparoscope is used less frequently as a non-surgical tool, with the major indication being for diagnosing infertility and/or amenorrhea, and for evaluation of obscure pelvic pain. There would seem to be several indications for laparoscopy that have been neglected, these being in confirming the diagnosis of acute pelvic inflammatory disease; in the evaluation of malignancies and abdominal-pelvic trauma; and the surgical treatment of pelvic pain. Lapar-The majority of these contraindications are relative, and depend soley on the laparoscopist's ability and his clinical judgment. The problems of hernias seem to have been over-emphasized. The laparoscopist should be aware of potential problems with umbilical hernia, and he probably can ignore hiatal hernias except when they are large and quite symptomatic. However, generalized abdominal peritonitis, significant hemoperitoneum with intestinal obstruction are felt by most authors to be absolute contraindications. The most frequent complications of laparoscopy involve the physoperitoneum. Except for cardiac arrest the most serious complications involve electrical burns to small bowel.