Long-term, health-related, quality of life comparison in patients undergoing single stage vs staged resection for complicated diverticular disease

Objective To evaluate long‐term health‐related quality of life, for single‐staged and staged resections following reversal, for complicated diverticular disease. Patients and methods Between 1981 and 2003, 188 patients undergoing single stage (n = 158) or staged resection (n = 30) completed the SF‐36 questionnaire. Health‐related quality of life (HRQL) was compared between the two groups and the US normal population based on the eight domains of the SF‐36. HRQL analysis was also performed at various time intervals. The effect of age and postoperative complications on HRQL was also determined. Functional and postoperative outcomes were also assessed. Results The single and staged resection groups differed in the presence of comorbidity, degree of peritoneal contamination and operative urgency. No difference in functional outcomes or HRQL was found, even after analysing time‐interval subgroups. Social functioning and general health was substantially worse in both groups when compared to US norms. Ageing was found to significantly reduce physical functioning (P