Abdominal laparoscopy is a useful aid in diagnosing disease or trauma in the abdominal cavity with less scarring than with a large abdominal incision. Large operations such as liver and pancreatic resections may begin with laparoscopy to exclude the presence of additional tumors (metastatic disease) that would preclude curative resection. The procedure is usually done in the hospital under general anesthesia, (however it may be done under local anesthesia).

Review Date: 12/4/2001 12:00:00 AM Reviewed By:A.D.A.M. Medical Illustration Team

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