Lee JT, et al. – This work was designed to determine morbidity and mortality for transplant patients undergoing elective colectomy for diverticulitis and determine the impact of recurrent diverticulitis on postoperative complications. Researchers identified a common occurrence of postoperative morbidity after elective colectomy for diverticulitis in transplant recipients. They identified no differences in complications for patients with primary versus recurrent diverticulitis. Thus they suggest not considering postoperative complications from recurrent diverticulitis as a reason to recommend elective colectomy after an initial attack of diverticulitis in transplant patients.

Methods

• Transplant recipients that underwent elective colectomy for diverticulitis were identified between 2000 and 2015 at a tertiary care institution.
• Retrospective chart review was performed to identify patient and procedure variables, postoperative complications, length of stay, 30-day readmission, and mortality.
• Comparison of complication rates between patients with one previous episode of diverticulitis versus two or more was performed.

Results

• Colectomy was performed on thirty transplant recipients for primary (n = 13) or recurrent (n = 17) diverticulitis.
• Researchers observed primary anastomosis in 26 (87%) with proximal diversion in 10 (38%).
• The overall complication rate of 57% was observed; surgical site infection was identified as the most common (23%) complication.
• No anastomotic leaks at the colorectal anastomosis or reoperations were noticed.
• In this study, median length of stay was 8 days (range 4–23).
• The groups indicated no significant difference regarding postoperative complications (54 vs. 59%, p = 0.94).