Perforated sigmoid diverticulitis: Hartmann’s procedure or resection with primary anastomosis

Background: Sigmoid Volvulus (SV) is a common cause of acute bowel obstruction in Malawi. We aimed to describe the surgical management of SV and its outcomes at Kamuzu Central Hospital, Lilongwe, Malawi. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed records from January 2019 to December 2019 of all SV patients, aged 18 years and above. Data extracted included age, sex, admission date, surgery date, bowel viability at time of surgery, procedure done, suspected anastomotic leakage, length of hospital stay and mortality. The data was analyzed using STATA 14.0. Results: There were more males (n= 59, 81.9 %) than females. The median (IQR) age was 50.5 (38-60) years. A viable sigmoid colon was present in 61 (84.7%) patients. The commonest procedures done were sigmoid resection and primary anastomosis (RPA) (59.7%, n=43) and Hartmann’s procedure (HP) (36.1%, n=26). The median length of hospital stay was 5 days in HP, 7 days in RPA and longest in mesosigmoidopexy (10 days). Suspected anastomotic leakage occurred in 2(4.7%) patients. The overall mortality was 6.9% with all deaths occurring in RPA patients. Conclusion: Mortality is high in SV patients who undergo RPA. We recommend Hartmann’s procedure in cases where the bowel has significant oedema or is gangrenous.

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State-of-the-art surgery for sigmoid diverticulitis

Langenbeck s Archives of Surgery ◽

10.1007/s00423-021-02288-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Roberto Cirocchi ◽

Paolo Sapienza ◽

Gabriele Anania ◽

Gian Andrea Binda ◽

Stefano Avenia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Diverticular Disease ◽

Fluid Resuscitation ◽

State Of The Art ◽

Colonic Resection ◽

Hartmann’S Procedure ◽

Sigmoid Diverticulitis ◽

Definitive Treatment ◽

Complication Rates ◽

Bridge To Surgery ◽

Hartmann's Procedure

Summary Background In the last two decades, there has been a Copernican revolution in the decision-making for the treatment of Diverticular Disease. Purpose This article provides a report on the state-of-the-art of surgery for sigmoid diverticulitis. Conclusion Acute diverticulitis is the most common reason for colonic resection after cancer; in the last decade, the indication for surgical resection has become more and more infrequent also in emergency. Currently, emergency surgery is seldom indicated, mostly for severe abdominal infective complications. Nowadays, uncomplicated diverticulitis is the most frequent presentation of diverticular disease and it is usually approached with a conservative medical treatment. Non-Operative Management may be considered also for complicated diverticulitis with abdominal abscess. At present, there is consensus among experts that the hemodynamic response to the initial fluid resuscitation should guide the emergency surgical approach to patients with severe sepsis or septic shock. In hemodynamically stable patients, a laparoscopic approach is the first choice, and surgeons with advanced laparoscopic skills report advantages in terms of lower postoperative complication rates. At the moment, the so-called Hartmann’s procedure is only indicated in severe generalized peritonitis with metabolic derangement or in severely ill patients. Some authors suggested laparoscopic peritoneal lavage as a bridge to surgery or also as a definitive treatment without colonic resection in selected patients. In case of hemodynamic instability not responding to fluid resuscitation, an initial damage control surgery seems to be more attractive than a Hartmann’s procedure, and it is associated with a high rate of primary anastomosis.

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