Last update:
09-Jul-2004

Despite the medical and technological development in recent decades, trauma continues to be a major cause of mortality and morbidity, increasing incidence. Early and accurate diagnosis allows prompt therapy, resulting in reduction in the number of preventable deaths. The use of the newest diagnostic tools such as ultrasound and computed tomography and invasive methods such as diagnostic peritoneal lavage, have improved the diagnostic capacity in abdominal trauma without however being able to eradicate the need of laparotomy. The diagnostic and therapeutic role of laparoscopy, mainly in cases of penetrating abdominal trauma, offers the possibility of inspecting the intra abdominal organs and it might be used in selected patients to exclude significant intra abdominal injuries. Among the advantages of the method is the possibility for subsequent therapeutic maneuvers. Especially for penetrating diaphragmatic lacerations, laparoscopy has been proposed as a diagnostic and therapeutic modality in many recent studies in the literature. The main disadvantages of the technique are the need for significant experience and the relatively high rate of “missed” injuries. As the interest in training in laparoscopy increases along with technological improvement, this new method is expected to contribute to the management of trauma patients, avoiding unnecessary laparotomies and affording them the advantages of minimal invasive surgery.

Key words: Abdominal trauma, Laparoscopy.