Acute and complicated colonic diverticulitis: Surgical standard in 500 cases

In a clinical report the results on 500 patients operated on with acute and complicated colonic diverticulitis from 1988 to 1999 are reported. In 401 elective or early elective operated cases mostly (392) a 1-stage operation with resection and primary anastomosis could be done (since 1997 by minimally invasive technique in 106 cases) with a mortality rate of 0.7%. Ninety-nine emergency operations due to peritonitis, ileus or bleeding had to be done. One-stage operations were possible in the half, stoma or Hartmann procedure and open abdomen management were necessary in severe abdominal sepsis with a mortality rate of 9.1%.