Page 134 - Postoperative Intra-Abdominal Adhesions- New insights in prevention and consequences

Chapter 8
ABSTRACT
Background
Diverticulitis can lead to localized or generalized peritonitis and consequently induce abdominal adhesion formation. If adhesions would lead to abdominal complaints, it might be expected that these would be more prominent after operation for perforated diverticulitis with peritonitis than after elective sigmoid resection.
Aims
The primary outcome of the study was the incidence of abdominal complaints in the long-term after acute and elective surgery for diverticulitis.
Methods
During the period 2003 through 2009, 269 patients were operated for diverticular disease. 208 of them were invited to fill out a questionnaire composed of the GIQLI and additional questions and finally 109 were suitable for analysis with a mean follow-up of 7.5 years.
Results
Analysis did not reveal any significant differences in the incidence of abdominal complaints or other parameters.
Conclusion
This retrospective study on patients after operation for diverticulitis shows that on the long term the severity of the abdominal complaints is neither influenced by the stage of the disease nor whether it was performed in an acute or elective setting.
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