Surgical management of acute diverticulitis in women

The incidence of diverticular disease of the colon has increased during the course of this century. The management of diverticulitis has changed in many centers from a conservative medical approach to a more aggressive surgical one. The surgical technique has also evolved; primary resection and anastomosis is currently preferred after a standard bowel preparation. The authors reviewed the medical histories of 387 women who had undergone abdominal operation for acute diverticulitis at the Mayo Clinic during a recent 8-year period. Of the 387 patients, 71 (18.3%) had presented with a pelvic mass and 84 (21.7%) had the operation performed by a gynecologic surgeon. The preoperative evaluation, type of operation, morbidity, and mortality in the entire group and in the group managed by a gynecologic surgeon were studied and compared.