Abstract
Peritoneoscopy was performed in 3, 212 cases (male 2, 481, 77.2% ; female 731, 22.8%) in the 26 years period from 1958 to 1983. 98% of the cases were liver diseases and liver biopsy was performed under the guide of peritoneoscope. 83% of them were classified by Shimada's classification : code number 200 (43%), 300 (16%), 400 or 500 (liver cirrhosis, 18%) and 100 (9%). Repeated peritoneoscopies of 249 patients (543 times) demonstrated that the code number system indicates well the activity and prognosis of chronic hepatitis. Complications of peritoneoscopy or liver biopsy were observed in 21 cases (0.65%) ; abdominal bleeding in 10 cases (0.31%). One case (0.031%) died after liver biopsy using a Robbers f oreceps. Forty-nine reports with more than 500 peritoneoscopies were collected. Peritoneoscopy in association with liver biopsy has contributed to diagnosis of liver diseases and will continue to develope as a direct observation method which accomplish non-bloody imaging methods.
