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Peritoneoscopy in Medical Cases


JM Spitaels
MG Moshal

Abstract

Two hundred and fifty patients were subjected to peritoneoscopy. The Jacobs-Palmer peritoneoscope and the Lent photoperitoneoscope with distal flash were employed. Local anaesthesia was utilised throughout Diagnostic analysis included 32 patients with tuberculosis (31 peritoneal, 1 hpatic); 39 patients with carcinoma (31 liver, 7 peritoneal, 1 ovarian); 56 patients with cirrhosis; 44 with various other liver conditions; 48 patients with nonapecific peritoneal inflammation; and 9 patients with other conditions. Fourteen peritoneoscopies were normal and 7 were terminated for technical reasons. The clinical impression of a 'doughy abdomen' was confirmed in only 17 out of 27 patients. In a series of 25 patients with radiological suspicion of intestinal tuberculosis none had tuberculous peritonitis; in 1 patient, mesenteric lymph nodes were enlarged and chylous ascites was found, in another hepatic tuberculosis was seen, and nonapecific peritoneal inflammation was obsewed in 8 patients. Only one perforation of the intestine occurred and this was effectively treated.

S Afr. Med. J, 48, 531(1974)

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eISSN: 2078-5135
print ISSN: 0256-9574