Change in the surgical strategy in acute and complicated colonic diverticulitis

: The records of 312 patients with acute colonic diverticulitis were reviewed. 129 patients required an operation. The operative management is presented and compared to the international literature. One-stage resection was performed in 79% of all patients. In 84% of patients with a localized inflammation a one-stage resection was possible. Fifty-seven percent of patients with peritonitis due to colonic perforation required a multiple stage procedure. In 70% the preferred surgical procedure of multiple stage treatment was Hartmann's operation. These therapeutical regimens are current standard. Lethality was 1.6% for all 129 patients and the postoperative morbidity was 22%.