title: [Diverticular disease: complications and treatment].
abstract: This study reports on 10 years of experience in observing diverticular disease. The study considers 77 patients, 41 males and 36 females, aged from 50 to 88 years (mean age: 70 years), observed from January 1991 to December 2001. Sixty-two patients were admitted from the Accident and Emergency Unit and 15 were elected patients. Five patients underwent emergency surgery, while 72 received only antibiotic therapy. The overall mortality rate was 0. The morbidity rate was 22% in those patients undergoing emergency surgery. In only one of the elected patients was wound suppuration detected. Diverticular disease, in most cases, is treated by antibiotic therapy alone, but in 30% of cases surgery is necessary. Colon resection and immediate anastomosis are the first choice operation also in the emergency setting, provided local conditions (inflammation, septic contamination) make anastomosis safe. In patients with major peritoneal contamination, Hartman's operation and subsequent recanalization after 6 months are to be preferred.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Semeiotica Chirurgica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cavallaro
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Loschiavo
authors.forename: Angelo Eugenio
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Potenza
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Modugno
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Fabbri
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Revelli
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Colli
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004239:Diverticulitis, Colonic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D004241:Diverticulum, Colon / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012810:Sigmoid Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents