Laparoscopy in the evaluation of women with unexplained ascites: an invaluable diagnostic tool.

Study Objective: To assess whether laparoscopy is a reliable technique for the investigation of women presenting with ascites and in whom the diagnosis remains obscure.

Design: Prospective nonrandomized clinical study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).

Setting: University Departments of a tertiary referral center.

Laparoscopic evaluation of infertile patients with chronic pelvic pain.

In this study over a 10-year period, 1584 patients complaining of infertility of more than 1 year duration were evaluated for their laparoscopic findings in relation to the presence or not of chronic pelvic pain (CPP). Infertility was the only complaint in 1215 cases (group 1), whereas 369 patients complained of infertility and CPP (group 2). All cases underwent routine infertility investigation and pelvic ultrasonography, followed by diagnostic laparoscopy, with infertility-only cases acting as a control group.

Endometriosis in patients with chronic pelvic pain: is staging predictive of the efficacy of laparoscopic surgery in pain relief?

Background/aims: Endometriosis is considered an important cause of chronic pelvic pain. Despite its high prevalence, controversy still exists regarding the true association between the extent of endometriosis and the severity of symptoms. We conducted this prospective study to investigate the association between the stage of endometriosis and type and severity of pain, and to evaluate the efficacy of laparoscopic surgery in pain relief.

Laparoscopic management of patients with endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain.

Endometriosis has been traditionally included among the most important causes of chronic pelvic pain (CPP) in women of reproductive age. The main clinical manifestations of endometriosis are dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and chronic nonmenstrual pain. Despite the high prevalence of endometriosis in women suffering from CPP, controversy still exists regarding the true association between the stage and extent of this peculiar disease and the severity of pain.