The first 100 laparoscopic procedures performed at the Massachusetts General Hospital by 20 surgeons at different stages of training are presented. Of these, 38 were carried out for female sterilization; 26 were done to aid in the emergency differential diagnosis of pelvic pain associated with a mass; and 13 cases of long-standing pelvic pain were investigated. Seventeen infertile patients and five additional patients with amenorrhea were also observed, as well as a patient undergoing a "second look" operation for carcinoma of the stomach.
One patient had to undergo laparotomy for bleeding. A second patient had two days of additional hospitalization for a rectus sheath hematoma.