Operative intervention rates for acute diverticulitis: a multicentre state-wide study

Acute colonic diverticulitis is placing an increasing strain on our health care resources. Measurement of the problem is difficult at a regional level, yet essential to improve and optimize treatment of this condition. Therefore, we aimed to use Australian state-level administrative data to determine the current practice and outcomes in major metropolitan hospitals.

Coding algorithms designed to increase the yield and accuracy of administrative data were used to find emergency admissions from the Victorian Admitted Episodes Dataset. Eight tertiary referral centres with specialist colorectal services from 2009 to 2013 were studied. Key metrics including the operative intervention rate were measured.

There were 2829 emergency admissions for acute diverticulitis across 4 years in eight hospitals, with 724 being complicated. The emergency operative intervention rate was 10.4%, with a third of admissions for complicated diverticulitis having an operation. Hartmann's procedure was the most commonly performed emergency operation, accounting for 72% of resections. Patient characteristics were consistent across the hospitals, including a median length of stay of 3 and 6 days for uncomplicated and complicated diverticulitis, respectively.

Hartmann's procedure is currently the most common emergency operation for acute complicated diverticulitis in Victorian metropolitan hospitals. Our practice and outcomes can be measured meaningfully using administrative data.