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Following a discussion of the various methods that have been devised for liver biopsy, and an explanation of the advantages accruing from aimed liver biopsy in the course of laparoscopy, the authors express their preference for this method on account of its unquestionable diagnostic value, ease of execution, and freedom from complications. Accordingly, and in good agreements with other experts such as Kalk, Beck, and Dagnini, they advocate more widespread use of the procedure in liver pathology.

In consideration of the well-known difficulties associated with the precise diagnosis of hemoperitoneum, the authors offer their personal experience in support of laparoscopy as a diagnostic aid in such dramatic events. They review 23 cases of emergency laparoscopy performed in the First Institute of Clinical Surgery of the University of Catania between January 1978 and January 1979. Recalling that the procedure was applied to patients as young as 3 and as old as 80, they confirm the opinion expressed from other quarters, namely that laparoscopy is an essentially harmless and rapid procedure conducive to very accurate diagnosis in view of appropriate planning of therapeutic treatment.

The authors offer a review of their ten-year (1968-1978) experiences at the First Institute of Clinical Surgery, University of Catania. In particular, they report on the low morbidity (12.9%) and mortality (4.5%) observed in a series of 240 patients with gastric or duodenal perforation due to peptic ulcers treated surgically by simple suture of the perforation.