Table 1.

Baseline characteristics

	Laparoscopic lavage (n = 43)	Hartmann's procedure (n = 40)
Age (years)*	64 (50–76)	68 (56–79)
Sex ratio (M : F)	21 : 22	16 : 24
BMI (kg/m2)*, †	25·6 (24·9–27·8)	24·9 (22·5–28·2)
ASA fitness grade‡
I: healthy	7	9
II: mild systemic disease	24	13
III: severe systemic disease	9	13
IV: severe life‐threatening systemic disease	0	2

^*Values are median (i.q.r.).

^†Data missing for ten patients in lavage group and 12 in Hartmann's group;

^‡data missing for three patients in each group.