**1. Introduction**

Diagnostic laparoscopy (DL) was introduced in surgical practice at the beginning of the 20th century but its use was limited for about 80 years. During the second half of the 20th century, laparoscopic access started to be used as a diagnostic resource in the traumatic and non-traumatic acute abdomen (Llanio & Sarle, 1956). Over the last decades, with the advent of new video systems, with the development of laparoscopic instruments and the improved visualization of the entire abdominal cavity, DL achieved an excellent level (Geis & Kim, 1995). Within this context of progress, DL started to be successfully used in critically ill patients in intensive care units, with a diagnostic accuracy of 96% and with no significant changes in hemodynamic parameters during the procedure (Brandt et al., 1993; Forde & Treat, 1992).

The easy identification of the types of organic fluids, the resources for the aspiration of pus, blood, bile and the intestinal content and the increased surgical experience have contributed to the therapeutic success of laparoscopy in an acute abdomen of surgical cause (Boyd & Nord, 1992; Cueto et al., 1997; Easter et al., 1992; Geis & Kim, 1995).

With growing reports of its therapeutic efficacy, laparoscopy quickly became the preferential route of access for the treatment of acute cholecystitis (Z'graggen et al., 1995; Colonval et al., 1997) and was also standardized for the treatment of acute appendicitis, adnexial diseases, and perforated gastric or duodenal ulcers (Branicki, 2002; Sauerland et al., 2006). It also represents an alternative access route for the exploration of the the bile ducts (Tagorona et al., 1995), necrosectomy and drainage of collection in acute pancreatitis (Pamoukian & Gagner, 2001).

There is a growing use of laparoscopy in peritonitis secondary to the perforation of diverticular disease of the colons as an option for cavity washing and drainage, and for the resection of the segment involved, especially in elective procedures (Tonelli et al., 2009; Chatzimavroudis et al.,2009). Selected cases of intestinal obstruction or perforation with early intervention before the installation of sepsis or of circulatory shock can also benefit from a laparoscopic access (Branicki, 2002).
