Evaluating the outcomes of primary anastomosis with hand-sewn full-circular reinforcement in managing perforated left-sided colonic diverticulitis

BACKGROUND: It is a challenge to avoid stoma formation in emergency surgery of perforated left-sided diverticulum. The hand-sewn full-circular reinforcement of the colorectal anastomosis is used during complete pelvic peritonectomy to avoid a diverting ileostomy. This study examined the effect of applying the reinforcement method to perforated left-sided colonic diverticulitis with respect to the permanent stoma rate and cost-effectiveness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This historical cohort study examined all patients who underwent emergency surgery for perforation of a left-sided diverticulum at the Hyogo Prefectural Amagasaki General Medical Center between July 2015 and September 2019. The cohort was divided into two groups: those who underwent conventional method (Group F) and those for whom the hand-sewn full-circular reinforcement method was actively performed (Group L). RESULTS: The number of patients who underwent emergency surgery which did not lead to an ostomy increased significantly from 12% (3/25) in Group F to 42% (11/26) in Group L (P = 0.0015). The rate of permanent stoma decreased from 80% in Group F to 27% in Group L (P < 0.001). Total treatment costs for patients under the age of 80 in Group L were significantly lower than those in Group F (2170000 ± 1020000 vs 3270000 ± 1960000 JPY; P = 0.018). CONCLUSIONS: In emergency surgery for left-sided perforated colonic diverticulitis, applying the hand-sewn full-circle reinforcement of the anastomotic site may reduce stoma formation at the initial surgery and consequently decrease permanent stoma rate and contribute to cost-effectiveness without increasing complications such as anastomotic leakage.