Development of the surgical treatment of diverticulitis: apropos of 96 case reports
Carlier, P.; Wahlen, C.; Desaive, C.
Revue Medicale de Liege 38(5): 168-175
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0370-629X PMID: 6601816 Document Number: 221052
In France diverticulitis of the colon affects > 1/2 of persons over the age of 75. Global mortality of cases receiving emergency surgery is very high (39%) despite adequate drainage, use of broad spectrum antibiotics and intensive resuscitation. The high death rate is due in part to the technique used in emergency surgery. Chances of survival are twice as good when resection is practiced rather than a shunt above the lesion, but agreement concerning early resection-suture technique advocated by K. Hell in 1982 is still being debated. Instead, a preference for the Hartmann operation is seen in the presence of purulent peritonitis or large abscesses with signs of toxicity. In case of hemorrhage, the colon is resected and continuity of the large intestine is reestablished immediately.