Acute Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis coli complicated by diffuse peritonitis

“…This has been noted by previous authors (Bevan, 1961). There is a preponderance of females over males (25:s) over the age of 70 years.…”

“…There is a preponderance of females over males (25:s) over the age of 70 years. An increasing incidence in females in the last few years has been reported (Bevan, 1961;May and Loewenthal, 1963).…”

“…Grouped with 12 cases of paracolic absccss, these 41 patients had an overall mortality of 43 per cent. Of Bevan's (Bevan, 1961) 138 cases of acute diverticulitis, 23 had diffuse peritonitis and 12 a pericolic abscess; the mortality of these 35 patients (8 of whom were never fit for surgery) was 37 per cent.…”

Spreading Peritonitis

“…This represents an inevitable mortality rate of 15 %. Similarly Bevan (1961) d4J'use peritonitis secondary to diverticulitis coli who were never fit for surgery. The surgical treatment of the remaining 79 is shown in Table 1.…”

Spreading Peritonitis

“…Because the results of conventional treatment are unsatisfactory especially in patients with a visible perforation (MacLaren 1957, Brown & Toomey 1960, Bevan 1961, Dawson et al 1964 the time seems ripe for a more widespread trial of emergency resection. However, no definite conclusions can be made by using such a treatment on selected patients; the results will have to be judged by the effect on the mortality rates (in all age groups) of all cases occurring in a hospital practice.…”