Elective operation after acute complicated diverticulitis: Is it still mandatory?

Table 1 Comorbidities of the patient cohort n (%)

Comorbidity
Cardiovascular	13 (11.4)
Pulmonary	6 (5.3)
Diabetes	5 (4.5)
Collagen–vascular	4 (3.5)
Obesity	9 (7.9)
Steroids	3 (2.6)

Table 2 Patient Characteristics in the extraluminal air groups n (%)

Characteristics	Extraluminal air	No extraluminal air	P value
	66 (57.9)	48 (42.1)
No. of women	24 (36.4)	25 (52)	0.009
Mean age (yr)	55.43 (± 15.6)	61.6 (± 17)	0.03
No. of patients < 50 years old	26 (39.4)	14 (29.1)	0.25
Previous episodes of diverticulitis	8 (12.1)	3 (6.3)	0.35
Leukocytes	13307 (± 3967)	14242 (± 4396)	0.20
CRP	128.6 (± 87)	150 (± 86.6)	0.21
Mesocolic abscess	13 (19.7)	39 (81.2)	< 0.0001
Pelvic abscess	2 (3)	9 (18.8)	< 0.0001
No abscess	51 (77.3)	0	-
Drainage	1 (1.5)	8 (16.7)	0.004
Surgery during first hospital stay	6 (9)	3 (6.3)	0.73
Surgery later	13 (19.7)	11 (22.9)	0.67
Conservative treatment	47 (71.3)	34 (70.8)	0.96
Recurrence	4 (6)	5 (10.4)	0.48

CRP: C-reaction protein.

Table 3 Patient characteristics in the diverticular abscess groups n (%)

Characteristics	Mesocolic abscess	Pelvic abscess	P value
	52 (45.6)	11 (9.6)
No. of women	24 (46.1)	7 (63.6)	0.337
Mean age (yr)	60.2 ± 17	56.8 ± 11	0.41
No. of patients < 50 years old	16 (30.8)	2 (18.2)	0.48
Previous episodes of diverticulitis	3 (5.8)	2 (18.2)	0.28
Co-morbidity	10 (19.2)	3 (27.3)	0.68
Leukocytes	14263 ± 4290	13981 ± 5996	0.88
CRP	141.5 ± 85	174 ± 96	0.30
Mean size (mm)	33 ± 16	45.5 ± 23	0.1
Free air	13 (25)	2 (18.2)	1.0
Drainage	4 (7.7)	5 (45.5)	0.0057
Surgery during first hospital stay	6 (11.5)	1 (9)	1.0
Surgery later	12 (23)	2 (18.2)	1.0
Conservative treatment	34 (65.4)	8 (72.7)	0.73
Recurrence	5 (9.6)	0	0.57

CRP: C-reaction protein.

Table 4 Mesocolic and pelvic abscess: relationship between size and incidence of drainage

	Condition	n (%)	Mean size (cm)	Size < 5 cm
Mesocolic abscess	Drainage	4 (7.7)	6.8 ± 1.9	2
	No drainage	48 (92.3)	3.1 ± 1.4	5
Pelvic abscess	Drainage	5 (45.5)	5.5 ± 2.2	2
	No drainage	6 (54.5)	3.8 ± 2.2	4

Table 5 Relationship between year of occurrence of diverticulitis and type of treatment n (%)

	DC	Surgery during first hospital stay	Surgery later
2008	22	2 (9)	11 (50)
2009	22	2 (9)	5 (22.8)
2010	19	1 (5.3)	2 (10.6)
2011	30	2 (6.7)	5 (16.7)
2012	21	2 (9.5)	1 (4.8)

Table 6 Relationship between the year of occurrence of diverticulitis and indications for acute and elective surgery

	Prophylactic	Stenosis	Fistula	Portal venous pneumatosis	Immuno-deficiency	Persisting symptoms	Recurrences
2008	7		31				1
2009	2	1			1		1
2010				1		1
2011	22					2	12
2012	0		1			1

¹One patient operated on in another institution;

²All patients operated on in another institution.