title: Elective resection for ongoing diverticular disease significantly improves quality of life.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although the risks of elective resection for diverticular disease are well studied, studies on subjective improvement are scarce. This study aims to investigate subjective improvement.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients who underwent elective resection for recurring or persisting complaints after an episode of diverticulitis were identified from an in-hospital database. Patients with at least 1 year of follow-up were sent visual analogue scales (VAS) to grade their quality of life (QoL) and the degree of discomfort caused by abdominal pain, abnormal defecation and fatigue before and after resection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and five patients responded to the questionnaire (response rate 76.6%). The median follow-up was 33 (15-53) months. Elective resection improved general QoL (median VAS improvement 40) and reduced discomfort caused by abdominal pain (median VAS improvement 60) in up to 89.3 and 87.5% of patients, respectively. The effects of elective resection are less profound for discomfort caused by abnormal defecation (77.1%, median VAS improvement 33) and fatigue (75.2%, median VAS improvement 30).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elective resection of the sigmoid for persisting or recurring symptoms after an episode of diverticulitis improves general QoL and discomfort caused by abdominal pain, abnormal defecation and fatigue in the vast majority of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Meander Medical Center, Amersfoort, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Bryan J M
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: van de Wall
authors.forename: Werner A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Draaisma
authors.forename: Jan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: van Iersel
authors.forename: Esther C J
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Consten
authors.forename: Marinus J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Wiezer
authors.forename: Ivo A M J
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Broeders
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D000368:Aged; D012809:Colon, Sigmoid / Q000601:surgery*; D003672:Defecation; D004239:Diverticulitis, Colonic / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires