[Importance of laparoscopy. Results of 600 examinations performed in the Internal Medicine Department of the Hôpital Principal of Dakar].

At Dakar General Hospital between 1984 and 1989, 402 men and 198 women aged between 7 and 82 years were examined by laparoscopy. This simple, rapid examination, well tolerated after simple premedication, should only be undertaken after complete diffusion of the pneumoperitoneum because of a major perforation risk: 2 deaths unfortunately occurred during the above series. CPF's and cirrhosis account for more than half the cases (52%) and Laparoscopy is most useful in exploring the peritoneal pathology. Laparoscopy led to 68 cases of tuberculosis, 28 of peritoneum carcinomatosis, and 11 of infectious peri-hepatitis being diagnosed, and remains a major examination method perfectly adapted to the hepato-peritoneal pathology so common in Black Africa.