Does sigmoidectomy for diverticular disease have a negative impact on patients' quality of life and bowel function?

Aim of this study was to evaluate bowel function after colonic resection for diverticular disease and assess its impact on patients' quality of life.

47 patients who underwent urgent or elective surgery for diverticular disease were either personally contacted or interviewed by telephone and given a questionnaire. The Memorial Bowel functional index, the short form (36) health survey questionnaire, and the fecal incontinence severity index were used.

Fecal Urgency was found in 4,25% of cases, Incomplete Evacuation in 17,03%, and the Lifestyle/Diet Modification Score in 23,4% of patients. Incontinence cases were not found. After surgery we found reduction of abdominal pain (p=0.017) and improved bowel function (p=0.001). The quality of life correlated to bowel function was defined good or very good in 87.2% of cases whereas 4.3% of patients reported poor bowel function. This condition was related to female patients (p=0.02), urgent surgery (p=0.05), and to post-operative complication (p=0.05).

In our experience, both bowel function and abdominal pain improved after surgery and 91.4% of patients were satisfied with the choice of surgery and would agree to do it again. The presence of not recognized inflammatory bowel syndromes can occasionally be responsible for persistent disorders after surgery.

Bowel function, Diverticular disease, Sigmoidectomy.