Management of acute diverticulitis in a tertiary care institution.

Background: Diverticular disease of the left colon is a common disease, mainly in the population over 50 years of age. The surgical management of acute diverticulitis is remains controversial, especially in severe forms.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the results of laparoscopic surgery for diverticular disease in a tertiary care institution with a specialist interest in minimally invasive surgery.

Design: All patients who had elective laparoscopic sigmoidectomy for diverticulitis within eight years at University Hospital of Luxembourg were selected from a retrospective database to evaluate laparoscopic benefit in moderate and severe disease.

Results: A total of 155 patients were divided in two groups: Moderate Acute Diverticulitis (MAD) and Severe Acute Diverticulitis (SAD) respectively. The short-term outcomes, after laparoscopic sigmoidectomy, were evaluated. There were not important differences between two groups.

Conclusions: The laparoscopic management of diverticular disease after moderate and severe crisis gives same benefits and short-term outcomes are similar. Elective Laparoscopic surgery is actually the standard of care for moderate and severe diverticular disease in our institution.