Colorectal surgeon consensus with diverticulitis clinical practice guidelines

Table 1 Surgeon demographics

Characteristic	n (%)
Age range (yr)
30-39	10 (10)
40-49	37 (37)
50-59	40 (40)
Over 60	14 (14)
Gender
Male	90 (89)
Female	11 (11)
Location of current practice
City (tertiary/quaternary referral center)	79 (78)
City (secondary referral)	16 (16)
Rural	6 (6)
Location of subspecialty training1
Australia/New Zealand	66 (65)
Europe	28 (28)
North America	15 (15)
Country of current practice
Australia	84 (83)
New Zealand	17 (17)
ASU present in current practice location	57 (56)
Interventional radiology available	99 (98)
Average years in practice (years ± SD)	14 ± 8.5

¹Total > 100% due to > 1 location of training.

Table 2 Topics that reached consensus and agree with guideline recommendations

Guideline recommendation	In agreement (%)	P-value
CT scan as initial diagnostic modality	77
Surgeon North American trained	100 vs 73	0.0151
Surgeon practicing in Australia	81 vs 59	0.047
Right-sided diverticulitis - CT initial imaging	93
Surgeon age < 50 years old	100 vs 89	0.021
Right-sided diverticulitis - Initial management oral/IV antibiotics and bowel rest	95
Surgeon practicing in Australia	98 vs 82	0.0331
Small diverticular abscess management with antibiotics/bowel rest	77
Surgeon North American trained	100 vs 73	0.0151
Large left-sided diverticular abscess management with percutaneous drainage	81
Large right-sided diverticular abscess - percutaneous drainage	83
Absence of ASU at surgeons place of practice	93 vs 75	0.0161
Hinchey Grade 4 - Hartmann’s procedure	81
Surgeon age > 50 years old	89 vs 72	0.034
Routine elective resection in young patient (< 50 years) NOT recommended	99
For elective anterior resection - extend distal margin to proximal rectum	94
Surgeon Non-European trained	99 vs 82	0.0061
Follow-up for high risk patient with uncomplicated diverticulitis	99
Endoscopic evaluation following acute episode	83

¹Fisher’s exact testP-value. ASU: Acute surgical unit.