With new technical advances, wider availability, and the recent proliferation
of less invasive surgery, the use of diagnostic laparoscopy has expanded far
beyond its traditional role in the evaluation of chronic liver disease. Short
of open laparotomy, diagnostic laparoscopy is the most accurate modality for
staging of intra-abdominal malignancies, and is particularly well-suited for
patients who otherwise would not require surgical palliation. In addition
to avoiding unnecessary laparotomy in this group, diagnostic laparoscopy has
proved valuable in the assessment of abdominal trauma, acute abdomen, and
ischemic bowel disease. We briefly review here some of the new developments
in the field of diagnostic laparoscopy.
