Aim: Perforated diverticulitis of the left colon with peritonitis remains life-threatening. However, the optimal surgical strategy is still under debate. The presented study compares the impact of a routinely applied two-stage damage control strategy (DCS) in perforated purulent or faeculent diverticulitis with currently used non-DCS strategies. Methods: This international multicentre retrospective cohort study was conducted in nine European hospitals. In five hospitals, the therapeutic algorithm covered the routine application of a two-stage DCS as a surgical standard for treating perforated diverticulitis. Four hospitals performed conventional one-stage surgeries and served as controls. The primary outcome was stoma rate at the end of the initial hospital stay. The key secondary outcomes were morbidity and mortality rates. Results: Overall, data from 558 patients were included, 365 of whom were from DCS centres with equally distributed sex. Patients treated in DCS centres were significantly younger (67 ± 14 vs. 70 ± 14, p = 0.007) but showed a higher Mannheim peritonitis index (22.3 ± 7.9 vs. 20.4 ± 8.0, p = 0.008). At discharge, patients treated in DCS hospitals had a significantly lower stoma rate (stoma-free: DCS, 45.6% vs. non-DCS, 20.8%; p = 0.001). Secondary outcome parameters showed no differences between the investigated cohorts, in addition to significantly longer ICU stays (7.28 ± 11.13 vs. 5.15 ± 9.60 days; p < 0.001) and an increased number of surgical interventions during the hospital stay in DCS centres (2.64 ± 1.89 vs. 1.51 ± 1.10; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Patients treated in DCS hospitals for perforated diverticulitis are significantly more likely to be discharged without a stoma than patients treated in hospitals using the current standard treatment.
Damage control surgery in perforated diverticulitis reduces the stoma rate: A multicentre international retrospective cohort study
Tartaglia, Dario;Chiarugi, Massimo;Strambi, Silvia;
2026-01-01
Abstract
Aim: Perforated diverticulitis of the left colon with peritonitis remains life-threatening. However, the optimal surgical strategy is still under debate. The presented study compares the impact of a routinely applied two-stage damage control strategy (DCS) in perforated purulent or faeculent diverticulitis with currently used non-DCS strategies. Methods: This international multicentre retrospective cohort study was conducted in nine European hospitals. In five hospitals, the therapeutic algorithm covered the routine application of a two-stage DCS as a surgical standard for treating perforated diverticulitis. Four hospitals performed conventional one-stage surgeries and served as controls. The primary outcome was stoma rate at the end of the initial hospital stay. The key secondary outcomes were morbidity and mortality rates. Results: Overall, data from 558 patients were included, 365 of whom were from DCS centres with equally distributed sex. Patients treated in DCS centres were significantly younger (67 ± 14 vs. 70 ± 14, p = 0.007) but showed a higher Mannheim peritonitis index (22.3 ± 7.9 vs. 20.4 ± 8.0, p = 0.008). At discharge, patients treated in DCS hospitals had a significantly lower stoma rate (stoma-free: DCS, 45.6% vs. non-DCS, 20.8%; p = 0.001). Secondary outcome parameters showed no differences between the investigated cohorts, in addition to significantly longer ICU stays (7.28 ± 11.13 vs. 5.15 ± 9.60 days; p < 0.001) and an increased number of surgical interventions during the hospital stay in DCS centres (2.64 ± 1.89 vs. 1.51 ± 1.10; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Patients treated in DCS hospitals for perforated diverticulitis are significantly more likely to be discharged without a stoma than patients treated in hospitals using the current standard treatment.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
