[Perforated diverticulitis of the colon: modalities of the surgical treatment]

A retrospective study was carried on 66 patients surgically treated for perforated diverticular colonic disease: 22 had acute phlegmon or pericolic abscess and underwent primary resection and anastomosis. Of the remaining 44 patients, who had multiple pericolic and/or pelvic abscesses, or generalized peritonitis, in 30 cases the Hartmann procedure was used, 6 underwent Mikulicz operation, while drainage with proximal colostomy was performed in 5 cases, and simple suture and drainage in the last 3 cases. Operative mortality was 18.2%. Mortality rate was higher in patients treated by colostomy and drainage. The Hartmann procedure and resection-anastomosis patients had a mortality rate of 23.3% and 4.4% respectively. No mortality was registered among patients treated with suture and drainage.