“…Several recent reports have attempted to identify cases fit for colon resection with immediate anastomosis, given to obvious advantages of this procedure in terms of mor bidity and mortality, shorter hospitalization and avoid ance of the need for colostomy [3,4,13,24], This proce dure is undoubtedly an excellent option for Hinchey's stages 1 and 2, with mortality not exceeding 3.4% [4,19,20,22], but it should be preceded, whenever possible, by mechanical bowel preparation, reported in 88 [22] to 100% [4] of cases. Most authors, however, still feel reluc tant to advocate immediate anastomosis in diverticulitis with generalized peritonitis (Hinchey's stages 3 and 4), despite two short optimistic series claiming no death: Alanis et al [24] performed 3 one-stage procedures in a group of 11 patients graded stage 3, whereas Medina et al [2] performed three similar procedures in a group of 6 patients graded stage 4.…”