Laparoscopic therapy of diverticulitis

: The aim of this work is a critical analysis of our results with primary laparoscopic resection and anastomosis of the colon for diverticulitis. From October 1993 to October 1997, 171 patients with a mean age of 60 years (97 males, 74 females) have been operated laparoscopically. 95 patients were operated electively after many episodes of acute diverticulitis and 76 patients in the acute phase, of whom 11 patients presented a colovesical fistula. 6 left hemicolectomies and 165 sigmoid resections were performed. Among the sigmoid resections 11 patients with simultaneous resection of a colovesical fistula are included. The operating time for elective cases was between 130 and 280 minutes with a mean of 180 minutes, for acute cases the time was between 75 and 410 minutes with a mean of 205 minutes. The conversion-rate was 10.5%: problems with the instruments n = 2, impossibility to pass the stapler n = 4, severe diverticulitis n = 7, iatrogenic lesion of the ureter n = 1, perforation of the transverse colon by the trocar n = 1, extended adhesions n = 2, hemorrhage n = 1. The morbidity was 10%: abdominal wall hematoma n = 1, intraabdominal hematomas n = 2, wound abscesses treated surgically n = 2, conservatively treated intraabdominal abscesses n = 2, anastomotic leaks treated with open procedure n = 2, anastomotic leaks with fistulization n = 4, treated once with laparotomy and 3 times conservatively, sepsis 3 times treated conservatively. As late complications (3.5%) we experienced: a bowel obstruction in 2 patients treated with open procedure, herniation at the trocar sites in 3 cases corrected surgically and an anastomotic stenosis, that had to be reoperated after an unsuccesful dilatation. Analgetic requests have been decreased to the half in comparison to the classically operated patients. The mortality: 1 patient (0.6%) died due to a fasciitis. The duration of the hospitalisation was 8.4 days in average (3-32 days). We can conclude that laparoscopic colon resection should be considered as an adequate procedure for the treatment of inflammatory processes. A large experience in laparoscopic surgery with continuous training of the surgeon is the prerequisite.