Prognostic factors in perforated colonic diverticulitis

Morbidity and mortality after emergency procedures in 105 patients with perforated colonic diverticulitis were evaluated in a retrospective study. In different stages of diverticulitis (Hinchey classification: I, 8.6%; II, 14.3%; III, 57.1%; IV, 20.0%) mortality was 12.4%. Preoperative sepsis syndrome with leucopenia and disturbed liver function, cardiac risk factors and obesity were independent prognostic factors in multiple logistic regression. Accompanied by immunosuppression the mortality rate remarkably increased to 33%. The stage of peritonitis showed no influence on the prognosis. In multivariate analysis, surgical procedure (primary resection 12.4%, Hartmann's procedure 61.9%, non-resection procedures 25.7%) showed influence only on increased general complications.