Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Hartmann's operation has occasionally been criticised for its high morbidity-mortality and permanent stomas. To compare risk factors is difficult due to different severity scores for diverticulitis with no standardisation. We attempted to define the morbidity-mortality of Hartmann's operation for sigmoid diverticulitis with peritonitis Hinchey III-IV and to identify some factors associated with morbidity-mortality and non-restoration of intestinal continuity.

PATIENTS AND METHOD:

Retrospective analysis of 72 patients: age, gender, ASA score, length of time between symptoms and surgery, Hinchey's score, Mannheim index, preoperative creatinine and co-morbidities.

RESULTS:

Hinchey's score III, 75%. Male, 35. Median age, 66.5 years. Morbidity-mortality: 48.6% and 23.6%, respectively. ASA > 2 (p = 0.03) and age > 65 years (p = 0.03) in bivariate analysis; and ASA > 2 (p = 0.002) and a history of ischaemic cardiac disease (p = 0.04) in multivariate analysis were associated with postoperative complications. In bivariate analysis mortality was associated with ASA > 2 (p = 0.02), age > 65 years (p = 0.02), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (p = 0.001), Mannhein index >or= 25 (p = 0.01) and pulmonary postoperative complications (p = 0.003). Multivariate analyses were statistical significant: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (p = 0.001) and postoperative respiratory infection (p = 0.02). Fifty-five patients survived and 65.5% continued to restoration of intestinal continuity. Age > 65 years (p = 0.004) and ASA score > 2 at first operation (p = 0.004) were predictive for non-reversal of Hartmann's procedure.

CONCLUSIONS:

Hartmann's operation is highly associated with morbidity-mortality in severe peritonitis of sigmoid diverticular origin, Hinchey III-IV. The majority of patients have severe co-morbidities and high-grade risk factors which are related to the incidence of morbidity and mortality.