Health-Related Quality of Life after Colonic Resection for Diverticular Disease: Long-term Results

Abstract

Our results indicate that there does not seem to be any long-term advantage to colonic resection which should be considered only in patients presenting complicated DD.

Gastrointestinal quality of life after laparoscopic-assisted sigmoidectomy for diverticular disease

“…We did not compare our collective to a group with conservative treatment. Several authors argue that uncomplicated diverticular disease takes a benign course in the long run and view the operative treatment critically [13,22,23]. However, not all of them addressed patient-reported outcome but concentrated on objective clinical data, especially assessing the rate of patients with unsuccessful conservative treatment, presenting with complicated disease after conservative treatment.…”

The Pathophysiology of Colonic Diverticulosis: Inflammation versus Constipation?

“…In fact, we know that up to 20% of patients complain of persistent abdominal pain after surgical treatment of diverticulitis [32], and the quality of life of those patients is significantly worse [33]. It has been hypothesized that persistent symptoms are linked to increased pro-inflammatory cytokines with persistent chronic inflammation in mucosal biopsy samples, as recently confirmed by Lahat et al [15].…”

Comparison of long-term quality of life in patients with diverticular disease. Are there any benefits to surgery?

“…Those authors postulated that a more expectant approach results in fewer deaths and fewer colostomies and is costsaving for both younger and older patients [19]. Scarpa et al found the same quality of life, symptom frequency, and operation and hospital admission rate in operated and nonoperated patients (study with 71 patients, follow-up 3,9 years) [20].…”