Jamil S Samaan, BS, Emily S Chang, BA, Nadav J Hart, BA, Evan T Alicuben, MD, Allan Ghlandian, MD, Kamran Samakar, MD. University of Southern California
INTRODUCTION: Chronic abdominal pain of unknown etiology is a difficult condition to treat. Patients often undergo exhaustive medical testing without a definitive diagnosis. Diagnostic laparoscopy (DL) has the potential to diagnose and treat these patients although there is limited evidence of its efficacy. We aim to evaluate the role of laparoscopy in both diagnostic and therapeutic management of chronic abdominal pain of unknown etiology. Additionally we aim to explore patient satisfaction and efficacy of laparoscopy.
METHODS AND PROCEDURES: This was a retrospective review of twenty-nine patients who underwent diagnostic laparoscopy for chronic abdominal pain of unknown origin from July 2009 to November 2017. Preoperative information was collected through chart review and patients were contacted by phone and given a follow-up survey to determine recurrence of pain and their post-operative satisfaction.
CONCLUSION: 86.2% of laparoscopies performed resulted in a therapeutic procedure demonstrating the efficacy of laparoscopy as a diagnostic and therapeutic method. Patient satisfaction and willingness to undergo the procedure again were very high. Laparoscopy appears to be an effective modality for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic abdominal pain with high patient satisfaction. Diagnostic laparoscopy should be considered early in the evaluation of patients with chronic abdominal pain of uknown etiology.
Presented at the SAGES 2017 Annual Meeting in Houston, TX.
Abstract ID: 95770
Program Number: P618
Presentation Session: Poster Session (Non CME)
Presentation Type: Poster