Abstract

Introduction: Colonic diverticulosis, as diverticulitis, is a frequent disease in different stages of evolution. There is uncertainty about treatment options that are used in secondary peritonitis. The aim of this study is to determine the best treatment option for patients with peritonitis secondary to diverticulitis of the left colon in terms of postoperative morbidity (POM) and mortality, comparing Hartmann's procedure (HP) and resection with primary anastomosis (RPA). Material and Methods: Systematic review. Studies in adults with peritonitis secondary to diverticulitis of the left colon treated with HP and RPA published between 1990 and 2011 were analyzed. TRIPDATABSE, IWO, MEDLINE, SciELO and LILACS databases were consulted and search strategies were applied using MeSH and free terms. Selected studies were analyzed using a score of methodological quality (MQ). The following variables were considered: mortality, POM, hospital stay, percentage of bowel transit reconstitution in patients undergoing HP and MQ of primary studies. Results: 26 primary studies were analyzed (47 series). There were no significant differences in the variable mortality (p = 0.0805), but significant difference was observed in POM (incompletely reported) (p = 0.0187). The median of MQ of the studies was 11 points for HP series and 10 for RPA series. Conclusion: The available evidence to determine the best treatment option in terms of mortality and POM in this kind of patients is insufficient. Studies with better level evidence and MQ are needed to clarify the uncertain.