A single training center's experience with 200 consecutive cases of diverticulitis: can all patients be approached laparoscopically?
BACKGROUND
This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes for consecutive patients with diverticular disease who underwent elective laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy.


METHODS
Data for this patient population were collected by chart review and analyzed retrospectively.


RESULTS
Between December 2001 and March 2007, 200 consecutive patients (93 men and 107 women) with an average age of 55 years were identified. All cases were managed by one of two colorectal surgeons. Of the 200 patients, 158 had recurrent diverticulitis, 20 had fistulas, 12 had abscesses, 8 had strictures, 1 had a mass, and 1 had a bleed. The mean operative time was 159 min, and the conversion rate was 8%. A total of 30 early postoperative complications occurred for 26 patients including wound infection (n = 9), ileus (n = 8), Clostridium difficile colitis (n = 3), urinary retention (n = 3), pelvic abscess (n = 2), deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism (n = 1), pneumonia (n = 1) urinary tract infection (n = 1), anastomotic leak (n = 1), and small bowel obstruction (n = 1). Late complications experienced by 11 patients included Clostridium difficile colitis (n = 3), incisional hernia (n = 3), wound infection (n = 3), wound hematoma (n = 1), and intraabdominal hemorrhage (n = 1).


CONCLUSIONS
The authors believe it is feasible to offer elective laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy to all patients with symptomatic diverticular disease despite preoperative risk factors.
Garrett
Kelly A
KA
Department of General Surgery, Albany Medical Center, 47 New Scotland Avenue, MC-61, Albany, NY 12208, USA. garretk@mail.amc.edu
Champagne
Bradley J
BJ
Valerian
Brian T
BT
Peterson
David
D
Lee
Edward C
EC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003082:Colectomy / Q000379:methods*; D004238:Diverticulitis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012810:Sigmoid Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome