[Diverticular and instrumental perforations of the colon]

From july 1976 to july 1982, two groups of patients consisting of eleven peritonitis due to acute perforated diverticulitis, and five instrumental colonic perforations were treated in our department. None of the patients died in both groups. The relative infrequency, the important morbidity and the inaugural aspect of the perforation in the diverticular disease are in agreement with the literature. The ideal surgical attitude is still controversial. With the majority of the authors, we prefer the Hartmann's operation. The frequency of iatrogenic perforations is not negligible, and could increase in the future, with the development of endoscopic investigations. The morbidity is lower than in the first group, provided that the surgical treatment is applied early.