Elective Surgery for Diverticulitis tied to QOL Benefits, Fewer Recurrences

Results

Ninety patients were randomized either to elective sigmoid resection or conservative treatment.

After exclusions, 41 patients in the surgery group and 44 in the conservative group were included in the intention-to-treat analyses.

Eight patients (18%) in the conservative treatment group underwent sigmoid resection within 2 years.

The mean GIQLI score at 1 year was 9.51 points higher in the surgery group compared to the conservative group, while the mean GIQLI score at 2 years was similar between the groups.

Within 2 years, 25 of 41 patients in the conservative group (61%) had recurrent diverticulitis compared to 4 of 37 patients in the surgery group (11%).

Four of 41 patients in the surgery group (10%) and 2 of 44 in the conservative group (5%) had major postoperative complications within 2 years.

In per-protocol analyses, the mean (SD) GIQLI score was higher in the surgery group compared to the conservative treatment group by 11.27 points at 12 months and 10.43 points at 24 months

In this randomized clinical trial, elective sigmoid resection was effective in preventing recurrent diverticulitis and improved quality of life over conservative treatment within 2 years.

Reference:

Santos A, Mentula P, Pinta T, et al. Quality-of-Life and Recurrence Outcomes Following Laparoscopic Elective Sigmoid Resection vs Conservative Treatment Following Diverticulitis: Prespecified 2-Year Analysis of the LASER Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Surg. Published online April 19, 2023. doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2023.0466

Keywords:

Elective, Surgery, Diverticulitis, QOL, Benefits, Fewer Recurrences, JAMA Surgery, Santos A, Mentula P, Pinta T