Laparoscopy was performed on 33 patients with penetrating abdominal injuries to identify those with peritoneal penetration. Diagnostic or therapeutic manoeuvres were not attempted; evidence of peritoneal penetration mandated exploratory laparotomy. Twenty-two patients had gunshot wounds and 11 stab wounds. Ten patients had multiple penetrating injuries. Intraperitoneal injury was not evident by clinical assessment in any patient and all were haemodynamically stable. Twenty-three patients underwent negative laparoscopy and no intraperitoneal injury was subsequently detected. Laparoscopy demonstrated peritoneal penetration in ten patients and subsequent laparotomy detected intraperitoneal injuries in nine. No complications of laparoscopy occurred. In stable patients with penetrating trauma and no clinical evidence of intraperitoneal injury, laparoscopy effectively and safely detects those with peritoneal penetration.