Diagnostic laparoscopy for recurrent abdominal pain, a case report.

Introduction:Recurrent abdominal pain in children sometimes deceive the physicians for failure to elicit a definite cause. Laparoscopy has got a role for accurate diagnosis as well as for treatment.

Case Report: A 5 year old male child was presented to us with abdominal pain, vomiting and fever for three days. Abdomen was not much distended, there was no definite point of tenderness and findinghs conformed to sub-acute intestinal obstruction. The boy had similar attacks thrice during the previous 6 months and recovered by conservative measures. Investigation were inconclusive. Laparoscopic approach was planned for diagnosis followed by treatment if required. No lesion could be found except multiple kinks of appendix by fibrous bands. Whole of the abdomen incuding small gut was chequed thoroughly. Lap-assisted appendectomy was done. The operation took 130 minutes. Post-operative recovery was uneventful and pt was allowed oral feeds the following morning.

Conclusions:Laparoscopy is a simple alternative to diagnostic laparotomy and brings out solution to long term sufferings of recurrent abdominal pain in children.

Key words: Recurrent abdominal pain, diagnostic laparoscopy