Timing of laparoscopic elective surgery for acute left colonic diverticulitis. Retrospective analysis of 332 patients.

PURPOSE: The optimal time to perform elective surgery remains to be determined. We analyzed the impact of time interval to surgery on short-terme outcome parameters in patients undergoing elective laparoscopic left colonic resection for diverticulitis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of two series of case-matched patients according to the timing of operation after the last episode of diverticulitis: group A (within 90 days) and group B (beyond 90 days).

RESULTS: 332 patients had left colonic resection for diverticulitis. 117 patients were included in group A vs 114 patients in group B. Overall abdominal morbidity in Group A was 21% vs 5% in group B (p = 0.02). Mean hospital stay was 7.7 days in group A vs 5 days in group B (p = 0.08). Residual inflammation was significantly increased in group A (31%) as compared to group B (11%) (p = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic left colonic resection for acute diverticulitis is best performed beyond the third month after the last acute episode.