ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: To evaluate the outcome of patients treated for complications of sigmoid diverticular disease. METHODS: Fifteen patients (11 women; aged 54-80 years) were treated over a 6-year period in a community hospital. Five patients presented with perforation and peritonitis, 3 with colovesical fistula, 2 with colovaginal fistula, 2 with recurrent phlegmon and 3 with bleeding. Six patients (5 with perforation, 1 colovesical fistula with hematuria) underwent emergency surgery. Six patients (2 with colovesical fistula, 2 colovaginal fistula and 2 recurrent phlegmon) underwent planned sigmoid resection. All 3 patients with bleeding were treated conservatively. RESULTS: One patient with a colovesical fistula and severe hematuria died 72 hours later with septicemia. All 5 patients with peritonitis survived; two had an eventful post-operative period and were in hospital for nearly 3 months. All 5 developed wound sepsis. Six patients who had a planned procedure had uneventful recovery. The 3 patients who presented with bleeding recovered. CONCLUSION: Complicated diverticular disease carries a high morbidity and mortality especially when operated on as an emergency. Interval sigmoid resection should be offered to patients who have recovered from an acute complication.