title: Factors predicting in-hospital mortality of patients with diffuse peritonitis from perforated colonic diverticulitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Diverticulitis free perforation still remains a major life-threatening condition. Herein we evaluate factors influencing prognosis of patients with perforated colonic diverticulitis and the current validity of Mannheim Peritonitis Index (MPI) in predicting mortality.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2000 to October 2010, 39 patients were operated on for generalized peritonitis from perforated diverticulitis
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five postoperative deaths (12.8%) related to septic shock occurred. A cross-sectional study between deceased and non-deceased patients was carried out. Deceased patients were significantly older than non-deceased (76.4 vs. 59.1 years,p=0.019); duration of symptoms was longer in deceased patients (102 vs. 26.9 hours, p=0.000); MPI was higher in deceased patients (31.4 vs. 21.2, p=0.000). Age, duration of symptoms and MPI were independent risk factors predicting poor prognosis. The highest sensitivity and specificity of MPI in predicting mortality was shown for a score higher than 27.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MPI is still effective in predicting postoperative mortality. People who nurse older persons must pay higher attention to complaints in order to reduce the delay in hospitalization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. adolfo.pisanu@tin.it
authors.forename: Adolfo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pisanu
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Reccia
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Deplano
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Porru
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uccheddu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004239:Diverticulitis, Colonic / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality*; D011379:Prognosis