Experience with diagnostic laparoscopy for gynaecological indications

Laparoscopy is an endoscopic procedure, which has become an integral part of the evaluation of conditions involving the female reproductive organs. This study retrospectively evaluated all the 420 diagnostic laparoscopic gynaecological procedures performed over the last ten years in an endoscopic gynaecology unit at a tertiary-level hospital. The women’s clinical characteristics, the indications for the laparoscopic procedure, the intraoperative findings and complications were evaluated. Ethical approval was obtained from The Institutional Review Board (IRB) for Research and Development (R&D). A simple percentage method was used for statistical analysis. The main indications for diagnostic laparoscopy in gynecology were infertility and chronic pelvic pain. However, in most procedures for chronic pelvic pain, no significant laparoscopic abnormalities justifying this diagnosis were found. There was no mortality or conversion to open laparotomy in this series. Diagnostic laparoscopy for gynecological indications is safe and wider application of this modern technology is recommended for our practice.