[Prognostic factors for survival in perforated colonic diverticulitis]

In a retrospective study we attempted to find prognostic factors for the mortality in perforated colonic diverticulitis. All patients of the First Surgical Department of Vienna University from 1965-1986 with complicated diverticulitis were included in this study. 47 patients had a perforated diverticulitis with a local abscess or a generalized peritonitis. In 35 patients a resection, in 12 patients a faecal diversion was performed. The mortality was 27%. A marked influence of age and preoperative complications on the prognosis was shown statistically. The operative procedure seems of secondary importance for operative mortality.