Laparoscopic surgery for inflammatory complications of acute sigmoid diverticulitis

From March 1995 through March 2000, we treated patients with the laparoscopic approach who had emergent and urgent indications for surgery. We report a series of 17 procedures in 16 patients in the acute category excluding those with active bleeding. One case of morbidity (DVT) but no moralities occurred, with 3 of 17 patients converted to an open approach. The postoperative course and subsequent recoveries compare favorably with the open approach to this disease process. Three other series are discussed for comparison, all showing similar favorable results. We concluded that given sufficient experience in minimally invasive colon surgery, surgeons can manage acute inflammatory complications of sigmoid diverticulitis laparoscopically with potential benefit to the patient.