Abstract

PEREZ-MORALES, Alfonso Gerardo et al. Complicated diverticular disease: Surgical management at the Hospital Español de Veracruz. Cir. gen [online]. 2011, vol.33, n.4, pp.243-247. ISSN 1405-0099.

Objective: To assess the results of surgical treatment of patients with complicated diverticular disease in a 9-year period. Setting: Hospital Español de Veracruz (third level health care). Design: Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional, retrospective study. Statistical analysis: Relative frequency and central tendency measures. Patients and methods: We studied 41 patients with complicated colonic diverticular disease. Analyzed variables were: sociodemographic characteristics, risk factors, surgical indications, surgical technique used, complications, and postoperative evolution. Results: Average age was of 66 ± 12.3 years, predominating women (51.22%). The main surgical indications were: perforation (43.90%), recurring diverticulitis (21.95%), hemorrhage (19.51%), colon fistula toward the bladder and vagina (9.76%), and obstruction (4.88%). Obesity was the most frequent risk factor (24.39%). Surgery was elective in 56.10% cases. Primary resection with anastomoses was performed in 92.69% of the cases and Hartman's procedure in 7.31%. Evolution of patients was satisfactory in 78.05%, and mortality in the group was of 2.44%. Conclusions: Our experience in the management of complicated diverticular disease reveals a high morbidity, with mortality similar to that reported in the worldwide literature. It is advisable that management be performed by experienced surgeons and at concentration hospitals

Keywords : Diverticulitis; colon; surgery; complications.