Role of Diagnostic Laparoscopy in Nonspecific Chronic Pain Abdomen

Introduction: Laparoscopy has established its role (diagnostic as well as therapeutic role) in patients with nonspecific chronic pain abdomen. In case of diagnostic dilemma and uncertainty, use of laparoscopy can help to avoid unnecessary laparotomy, provides accurate diagnosis, and helps to plan for surgical intervention if required. However, the role of laparoscopy in nonspecific chronic pain abdomen is still debated. Aims and objectives: To assess the accuracy of laparoscopy in the diagnosis of nonspecific chronic pain abdomen and its ability to avoid unnecessary exploratory laparotomy with complications and limitations associated with laparoscopy including failure rate. Materials and methods: This prospective descriptive study was conducted for a period of 1 year in patients with nonspecific chronic pain abdomen for more than 3 months attending the outpatient department or emergency department when clinical features and investigations are not conclusive. Results: Sixty-two patients in age-group from 15 to 60 years were studied. Overall 85.48% of patients had resolution of pain after diagnostic laparoscopy with diagnostic accuracy in our study of 88.7%. Conclusion: Diagnostic laparoscopy should be considered as one of the gold standard tests for diagnosing the nonspecific chronic pain abdomen, when noninvasive diagnostic modality failed in diagnosing cause.