A retrospective study of 32 cases. The authors relate about a series of thirty-two cases of diffuse peritonitis, complicating diverticular sigmo iditis in which the etiological features, means of diagnosis and surgical procedures are analysed. According to obtained results, the preference is given to Hartmann's intervention. They are convinced that the better results after that surgical technique are due to the better management of the stercoral peritonitis it offers, taking away the infectious segment. It is neither long to perform nor dangerous and prevents anastomotic fistula in these no-prepared colons. The global mortality of peritonitis in diverticular disease of the colon appears them still very high and they prefer the one stage prophylactic segmentary colectomy after one or two medically treated acute sigmo iditis , particularly in the young patient of who the liability to complications is high.