Urgent surgery for sigmoid diverticulitis. Retrospective study of 118 patients

Aim of our study was to identij5 the risk factors for operative morbility and mortality after urgent surgery for complicated sigmoid diverticulitis. A further end point was define the adequate surgical approach in these patients.

Data fJom 118 patients who were admitted for emergency surgery between 2000 and 2009 for non-haemorrhagic complicated diverticulitis of the sigmoid colon were retrospectively evaluated and analysed. Operative options included resection with primary anastomoses (PA), Hartmann's procedure (HP) and colostomy. All operative complications were noted and potential risk factors listed.

One hundred eighteen patients were enrolled in this study. Surgery for peritonitis was indicated for 102 patients and for intestinal obstruction in the remainder. Overall morbidity and mortality rates were 37.3% and 9.3%, respectively. Primary resection was performed on 113 patients (95.8%). Age greater than 70 years, diffuse peritonitis, Mannheim Peritonitis Index (MPI) above 18, and symptoms lasting longer than 24 hours are considered as independent risk factors for operative morbidity and mortality.

Our results confirmed that while age older than 70 years and delaying treatment (>24h) are independent risk factors for operative morbidity and mortality, comorbidity is not. According to general guidelines, first target of surgery was to attempt a primary resection of the diseased colon (95.8% of our patients). In our series an high rate of Hartmann procedure (HP) in Hinchey's class 2 patients was observed. This unusually high number is explained by the rate (68.4%) of pelviperitonitis diagnosed in these patients. Extended pelvic peritonitis is generally defined as a local peritonitis (class 2 Hinchey), which is not accurate. Colonic resection in these cases would not completely remove peritoneal contamination and renders the indication for PA questionable.

Emergency surgery for complicated diverticulitis is characterised by high rates of morbidity and mortality. Age greater than 70 years, symptoms lasting longer than 24 hours, MPI above 18, and diffuse peritonitis were significant predictors. Early eradication of septic focus is the main goal of surgery. Primary anastomosis is recommended only if sepsis is completely removed.