Vol. 9, Issue 4, Part A (2025)

Introduction: Initially, laparoscopy was contraindicated in cases of previous laparotomy due to the increased risk of intestinal damage. With technological advances and mastery of this art, some of the contraindications no longer apply. The lack of documentation in our field motivated us to conduct this study. 
Methodology: This is a cross-sectional analytical study conducted at Panzi Hospital in Bukavu from January 1, 2023, to August 31, 2024, among patients with scarred abdomens who underwent laparoscopy.
Results: Of 307 laparoscopies, 33.56% were performed on scarred abdomens. The sex ratio was 6.9/1. The median age was 39 years, ranging from 18 to 70 years. Cesarean section was the most common previous surgery. 84.20% of patients had undergone 1 to 3 previous conventional abdominal surgeries. Abdominal pain and the desire for motherhood were the most common reasons for consultation. The main indications were infertility and lithiasic cholecystitis, accounting for 23.30% and 17.48% of cases, respectively. Thirty-three percent of the procedures lasted between 31 and 60 minutes. CO2 insufflation was performed in the left hypochondrium in 75.73% of cases. Adhesions were present in 70.87% of cases, and adhesiolysis was performed in 66.02% of cases. The conversion rate was 2.91%. 92.23% of patients had no intraoperative incidents. Abdominal pain was the most commonly reported postoperative complaint. 97.09% of our patients had no postoperative complications. The average postoperative stay was 2 days. 
Conclusion: Laparoscopy on scarred abdomens is routinely performed successfully at PANZI. Low intraoperative and conversion rates ensure a rapid return to normal daily life for patients with scarred abdomens.