SURGICAL-TREATMENT OF SIGMOID DIVERTICULI TIS IN THE ELDERLY - ARGUMENTS AGAINST EARLY ELECTIVE RESECTION

The results of an offensive surgical approach to diverticulitis, aimed at early elective resection, have been analysed retrospectively for 3 77 patients. 36.9% of older patients (> 74 years, n=65) showed signifi cantly higher general complications than younger patients (<75 years, n=312) with 26.9% (p=0.03); local complications (18.3% vs. 12.3%; old vs. young) and mortality (1.5% vs. 1%) were similar. Age over 74 years was not a risk factor for a high morbidity and mortality in multivari ate analysis. In older patients a definitive treatment for diverticula r disease is also possible with high and safe standards due to early e lective resection without high morbidity and mortality.