Risk factors for emergency surgery for diverticulitis: A retrospective multicentric French study at 41 hospitals.

BACKGROUND: The observed increase in the incidence of complicated diverticulitis may lead to the performance of more emergency surgeries. This study aimed to assess the rate and risk factors of emergency surgery for sigmoid diverticulitis. METHOD: The primary outcomes were the rate of emergency surgery for sigmoid diverticulitis and its associated risk factors. The urgent or elective nature of the surgical intervention was provided by the surgeon and in accordance with the indication for surgical treatment. A mixed logistic regression with a random intercept after multiple imputations by the chained equation was performed to consider the influence of missing data on the results. RESULTS: Between 2010 and 2021, 6,867 patients underwent surgery for sigmoid diverticulitis in the participating centers, of which one-third (n = 2317) were emergency cases. In multivariate regression analysis with multiple imputation by chained equation, increasing age, body mass index <18.5 kg/m2, neurologic and pulmonary comorbidities, use of anticoagulant drugs, immunocompromised status, and first attack of sigmoid diverticulitis were independent risk factors for emergency surgery. The likelihood of emergency surgery was significantly more frequent after national guidelines, which were implemented in 2017, only in patients with a history of sigmoid diverticulitis attacks. CONCLUSION: The present study highlights a high rate (33%) of emergency surgery for sigmoid diverticulitis in France, which was significantly associated with patient features and the first attack of diverticulitis.

Impact of the first wave of COVID-19 epidemy on the surgical management of sigmoid diverticular disease in France: National French retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the surgical management of sigmoid diverticular disease (SDD) before, during, and after the first containment rules (CR) for the first wave of COVID-19. METHODS: From the French Surgical Association multicenter series, this study included all patients operated on between January 2018 and September 2021. Three groups were compared: A (before CR period: 01/01/18-03/16/20), B (CR period: 03/17/20-05/03/20), and C (post CR period: 05/04/20-09/30/21). RESULTS: A total of 1965 patients (A n = 1517, B n = 52, C n = 396) were included. The A group had significantly more previous SDD compared to the two other groups (p = 0.007), especially complicated (p = 0.0004). The rate of peritonitis was significantly higher in the B (46.1%) and C (38.4%) groups compared to the A group (31.7%) (p = 0.034 and p = 0.014). As regards surgical treatment, Hartmann's procedure was more often performed in the B group (44.2%, vs A 25.5% and C 26.8%, p = 0.01). Mortality at 90 days was significantly higher in the B group (9.6%, vs A 4% and C 6.3%, p = 0.034). This difference was also significant between the A and B groups (p = 0.048), as well as between the A and C groups (p = 0.05). There was no significant difference between the three groups in terms of postoperative morbidity. CONCLUSION: This study shows that the management of SDD was impacted by COVID-19 at CR, but also after and until September 2021, both on the initial clinical presentation and on postoperative mortality.

Safety of laparoscopic fundoplication in children under 5 kg: a comparative study.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic fundoplication in children under 5 kg is still debated. Our objective was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic fundoplication (LF) in children under 5 kg. METHODS: We reviewed the cases of 96 children treated by laparoscopic fundoplication between 2005 and 2014. Thirty-five patients had a weight of 5 kg or less at the time of LF (Low Weight Group) and 61 patients had a weight between 5.1 and 10 kg (High Weight Group). The pre-operative, peri-operative, post-operative data regarding surgery and anesthesia were compared between groups. RESULTS: Mean weight was 3.9 ± 0.8 kg in the LWG and 7.8 ± 1.5 kg in the HWG. Children in the LWG were more prone to pre-operative respiratory management (40% mechanical ventilation and 42.9% oxygen therapy). The operating times (82 ± 28 min for LWG and 85 ± 31 min for HWG) and respiratory parameters during the procedure (PCO2) were comparable between groups. Post-operative complications were 1 gastric perforation with peritonitis and 1 small bowel obstruction in the LWG, 2 cases of gastric perforation with peritonitis in the HWG. Mean follow-up was 67 ± 44 months. Significant recurrence of GERD requiring a redo fundoplication was noted in 3 patients in the LWG and 1 patient in the HWG. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic fundoplication is a safe procedure in infants ≤ 5 kg without increase of post-operative complications, recurrence, or mean operative time.