Mortality after emergency Hartmann's procedure in octogenarians: a propensity score-matched analysis

Complicated diverticulitis is associated with a postoperative mortality rate of 20%. We hypothesized that age ≥80 was an independent risk factor for mortality after Hartmann's procedure for diverticular disease when controlling for baseline comorbidities.

Patients who underwent an urgent or emergent Hartmann's procedure (Current Procedural Terminology codes 44143 and 44206) for diverticular disease (International Classification of Diseases-9:562.xx) were identified using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Project 2005-2013 user file. Using propensity score matching to control for baseline comorbidities, a group of patients ≥80 years old was matched to a group of those <80 years old. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression were performed. A P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant with a confidence interval (CI) of 95%.

From a total of 2986 patients, 464 patients (15.5%) were ≥80 years old. Two groups of 284 patients in each study arm were matched using propensity-matching. The mean age of the ≥80 group and <80 group was 84.4 ± 3.3 versus 63.77 ± 911.8; P < 0.0001, respectively. There was no statistical difference in baseline comorbidities or operative time between the groups. There was a significant difference in mortality with 19% and 9.2% in the >80 group versus <80 groups, respectively (P = 0.001). Factors associated with mortality included ascites (odds ratio [OR] 4.95, confidence interval [CI] 1.64-14.93, P = 0.005), previous cardiac surgery (OR 3.68, CI 1.46-9.26, P = 0.006), partially dependent or fully dependent functional status (OR 2.51, CI 1.12-5.56, P = 0.02), albumin <3 (OR 2.49, CI 1.18-5.29, P = 0.01), and American Society of Anesthesiologist class >3 (OR 2.10, CI 1.10-4.46, P = 0.05).

Octogenarians presenting with complicated diverticulitis requiring an emergent Hartmann's procedure have a higher mortality rate compared to those <80, even after controlling for baseline comorbidities.

This is a retrospective, descriptive study.