The role of laparoscopic surgery in the acute abdomen

The correct and early diagnosis and treatment are essential for the outcome of the patient with an acute abdomen. In 520 patients with the initial diagnosis of acute abdomen early laparoscopy revealed certain advantages. 183 (35.2 %) patients with 11 different diseases could be treated laparoscopically, 129 (24.8 %) underwent a laparotomy. In 96.7 % of our patients the initial diagnosis was correct, so that these patients received a suitable therapy. The method is economically justified because we have equal costs both with CT/szintiscanning and laparoscopy, whereas the costs of MRI are nearly 400 DM higher.