Long-term outcomes of sigmoid diverticulitis: a single-center experience

During the last decade, guidelines for the treatment of sigmoid diverticulitis have dramatically changed. The aim of this study is to report the long-term outcomes of patients treated for diverticulitis at a nonspecialized single center.

After obtaining institutional review board approval, medical records of all patients admitted to our institution with the diagnosis of sigmoid diverticulitis between 1998 and 2008 were reviewed. A follow-up of at least 5 years was required.

During the study period, 266 patients were admitted to our hospital due to sigmoid diverticulitis with a mean follow-up period of 120 ± 2 months. Of the entire cohort, 249 patients (93.5%) were treated conservatively and 17 (6.5%) patients required emergent surgery on initial presentation. Patients treated conservatively (n = 249) encountered a median of two recurrent episodes (range 0-4). During follow-up, none of these patients required emergent surgery, and 27 patients (11%) underwent elective surgery for recurrent episodes (n = 24), chronic smoldering disease (n = 2), and fistula (n = 1). Minor and major complication rates after elective surgery were 18.5% and 30%, respectively. Specifically, four patients (15%) suffered an anastomotic leak (AL). Late complications after elective surgery occurred in 33% of patients including incisional hernias (11%), bowel obstruction (3.7%), anastomotic stenosis (3.7%), and recurrent diverticulitis (15%).

Patients treated conservatively during their index admission for sigmoid diverticulitis do not require emergent surgery during long-term follow-up and the majority of patients (89%) do not require elective surgery. Elective sigmoidectomy at nonspecialized centers may result in high rates of recurrent diverticulitis (15%) and anastomotic leak (15%).