Laparoscopy ... a useful technique for the general surgeon.

A series of 227 consecutive laparoscopies performed over 3 years at a provincial hospital in the North Solomons Province is presented. There were no deaths due to the procedure and morbidity was 2.4%. Positive findings were revealed in 89% of patients, allowing rapid decisions to be made regarding patient management: a vital consideration in a busy surgical unit with limited resources. Laparoscopy provides an efficient, safe, rapid and direct approach to many abdominal problems encountered in general surgery, particularly liver disease, blunt abdominal trauma, intraperitoneal infection and neoplasia.