What is advised for patients showing signs of faecal peritonitis due to diverticulitis?

In cases of faecal peritonitis due to diverticulitis, immediate resection and stoma creation is a critical intervention. Faecal peritonitis signifies that there is contamination of the peritoneal cavity with faecal material, which is a severe and often life-threatening condition that requires urgent surgical attention.

The rationale for immediate surgery in this scenario is multifaceted. The presence of faecal matter in the peritoneal cavity can lead to widespread inflammation, sepsis, and potentially multi-organ failure if not addressed promptly. The surgical intervention involves resecting the affected segment of the bowel to remove the source of contamination and, in cases of significant bowel compromise or to allow for safe healing of the bowel, creating a stoma may be necessary.

Conservative management or reliance solely on antibiotic therapy would be inappropriate because these measures do not address the underlying cause of contamination and do not remove the risk of further complications. Outpatient follow-up would also not be suitable as faecal peritonitis requires immediate action. Thus, the immediate surgical approach is a standard practice in managing this serious condition to prevent further morbidity and mortality.