Management of acute diverticulitis in a tertiary care institution

Diverticular disease of the left colon is a common disease, mainly in the population over 50 years of age. The surgical management of acute diverticulitis is remains controversial, especially in severe forms.

This study aimed to evaluate the results of laparoscopic surgery for diverticular disease in a tertiary care institution with a specialist interest in minimally invasive surgery.

All patients who had elective laparoscopic sigmoidectomy for diverticulitis within eight years at University Hospital of Luxembourg were selected from a retrospective database to evaluate laparoscopic benefit in moderate and severe disease.

A total of 155 patients were divided in two groups: Moderate Acute Diverticulitis (MAD) and Severe Acute Diverticulitis (SAD) respectively. The short-term outcomes, after laparoscopic sigmoidectomy, were evaluated. There were not important differences between two groups.

The laparoscopic management of diverticular disease after moderate and severe crisis gives same benefits and short-term outcomes are similar. Elective Laparoscopic surgery is actually the standard of care for moderate and severe diverticular disease in our institution.