Diagnostic laparoscopy is basically a test to find out the cause for complaints related to the abdomen for which other tests have failed to conclude anything.
It is indicated in patients with suspected appendicitis, chronic lower abdominal pain, adhesive colic, peritonitis, blunt/penetrating abdominal trauma with suspected injury and as staging for abdominal cancers.
It is performed as any other laparoscopic surgery with the patient in OT under general anesthesia.
It usually takes less than 30 minutes to perform and the patient may be discharged the same day.