Search

Among the diseases of the colon, diverticular disease occupies one of the leading positions, the frequency of which is currently 1.2 cases per 1000 people. Complications in this condition develop in 5% of cases and account for 3-5% of all patients with acute abdominal diseases. Surgical intervention is required in 15% to 30% of such patients. The mortality rate after surgical treatment of acute complications of the diverticular disease remains high, ranging from 7% to 25%. The purpose of our study was to compare the outcomes in the treatment of patients with acute destructive diverticulitis of the colon using traditional surgical treatment versus minimally invasive technologies. In the study, 114 patients diagnosed with acute destructive diverticulitis were examined. Group I consisted of 56 patients who underwent initial surgical interventions employing minimally invasive methods like laparoscopy, laparoscopic-assisted techniques, or percutaneous drainage guided by ultrasound. Group II comprised 58 patients who underwent the first surgical intervention through laparotomy access. The data of our study show that the overall proportion of patients with complications was higher in Group II – 20 (34.5%) compared to 6 (10.1%) in Group I (p=0.005). The application of diverse surgical methods did not notably impact the mortality rate, with 6 (10.3%) fatalities in Group II compared to 2 (3.6%) in Group I (p=0.2). Stoma creation was more frequent in Group II, in 40 (67%) patients, whereas in Group I, the occurrence of stomas was lower, in 15 (25.9%) cases. The average period to stoma closure was 5 months in Group II and 2 months in Group I. There was observed a decrease in the time of urgent surgery from 143±13.5 minutes in Group II to 65.7±15.2 minutes in Group I (p

Summary: Background: Colonic diverticulitis (CD), typically seen in the elderly of Western countries, is increasingly prevalent worldwide, yet data on CD in children and adolescents are scarce. This study explores the characteristics of CD in this younger demographic. Methods: In a multicenter, retrospective review, 104 patients under 20 years diagnosed with CD at four Korean tertiary hospitals from June 2003 to December 2020 were analyzed. Abdominal CT scans were used for diagnosis, with the modified Hinchey classification assessing the severity of CD. Results: CD was found in the cecum or ascending colon in 103 (99%) of cases. The mean patient age was 17.24 ± 2.4 years, with males constituting 59.6% of cases. Solitary lesions were noted in 93 (89.4%) of patients. Severity was classified as modified Hinchey stage 0 in 58.7%, stage Ia in 29.8%, and stage Ib in 11.5%, with no cases of stage II or higher. Misdiagnosis as acute appendicitis occurred in six instances. IV antibiotics were administered to 68.3%, and oral antibiotics were sufficient for 24%. Surgical treatment was necessary for two patients. A 7.8% recurrence rate was noted among first-time CD patients, yet all cases were amenable to conservative management. Conclusion: While uncommon, CD in children and adolescents is a growing concern, with most cases presenting as solitary lesions in the cecum or ascending colon. The severity is typically less than that in adults, and conservative treatment is generally effective. These findings underscore the need for specific management guidelines for pediatric CD, advocating for non-surgical initial approaches.

Background/Aims Immunocompromised patients with acute colonic diverticulitis are at high risk for complications and failure of non-surgical treatment. However, evidence on the comparative outcomes of immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients with diverticulitis is lacking. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the outcomes of medical treatment in immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients with diverticulitis. Methods A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. Studies comparing the clinical outcomes of immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients with diverticulitis were included. Results A total of 10 studies with 1,946,461 subjects were included in the quantitative synthesis. The risk of emergency surgery and postoperative mortality after emergency surgery was significantly higher in immunocompromised patients than in immunocompetent patients with diverticulitis (risk ratio [RR], 1.76; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.31–2.38 and RR, 3.05; 95% CI, 1.70–5.45, respectively). Overall risk of complications associated with diverticulitis was non-significantly higher in immunocompromised than in immunocompetent patients (RR, 1.24; 95% CI, 0.95–1.63). Overall mortality irrespective of surgery was significantly higher in immunocompromised than in immunocompetent patients with diverticulitis (RR, 3.65; 95% CI, 1.73–7.69). By contrast, postoperative mortality after elective surgery was not significantly different between immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients with diverticulitis. In subgroup analysis, the risk of emergency surgery and recurrence was significantly higher in immunocompromised patients with complicated diverticulitis, whereas no significant difference was shown in mild disease. Conclusions Immunocompromised patients with diverticulitis should be given the best medical treatment with multidisciplinary approach because they had increased risks of surgery, postoperative morbidity, and mortality than immunocompetent patients.

Background/Aims Some management strategies for acute colonic diverticulitis remain controversial in Korean real-world practice because their clinical features differ from those in the West. This study aimed to investigate the opinions of Korean physicians regarding the diagnosis and treatment of acute diverticulitis. Methods A web-based survey was conducted among gastroenterologists specializing on treating lower gastrointestinal disorders. The questionnaires concerned overall management strategies for colonic diverticulitis, including diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. Results In total, 209 gastroenterologists responded to the survey. Less than one-fourth of the respondents (23.6%) answered that left-sided colonic diverticulitis is more likely to be complicated than right-sided colonic diverticulitis. Most respondents agreed that immunocompromised patients with diverticulitis have worse clinical outcomes than immunocompetent patients (71.3%). Computed tomography was the most preferred tool for diagnosing diverticulitis (93.9%). Approximately 89% of the respondents answered that they believed antibiotic treatment is necessary to treat acute uncomplicated diverticulitis. Most respondents (92.6%) agreed that emergency surgery is not required for diverticulitis with an abscess or microperforation without panperitonitis. Further, 94.7% of the respondents agreed that colon cancer screening is necessary in patients aged ≥ 50 years with diverticulitis after they have recovered from acute illness. Many respondents (71.4%) agreed that surgery for recurrent diverticulitis should be individualized. Conclusions Opinions regarding management strategies for colonic diverticulitis among Korean gastroenterologists were well agreed upon in some areas but did not agree well in other areas. Evidence-based guidelines that meet the practical needs of the Korean population should be developed.

Purpose In the West, diverticular disease is located mainly in the left colon. However, it can also present in the right colon, with an incidence of 1% to 2% in Caucasians. The purpose of this study was to describe our experience in right-sided acute diverticulitis (RD). Methods In this retrospective study, 410 patients with acute diverticulitis treated from 2013 to 2020 were included in a university hospital in Córdoba, Argentina. Colonic diverticulitis was stratified into 2 groups; RD and left-sided acute diverticulitis. Demographic and clinical variables, laboratory and imaging findings, type of treatment, follow-up, and recurrence were analyzed. Results Sixteen patients (3.9%) with RD were identified; 62.5% were male and the mean age was 40.7±11.7 years. A total of 81.3% were Caucasian and 18.7% Native American. Significant differences were found between both groups of diverticulitis; patients with RD were younger (P=0.001), with lower BMI (P=0.01), comorbidity rate (P=0.01), Charlson comorbidity index (P=0.02), hospital stay (P=0.01), severity according to the Hinchey classification (P=0.001) and had a lower recurrence rate (P=0.001). There were no significant differences in sex (P=0.95), duration of pain until admission (P=0.05), laboratory findings (P=0.23) and treatment (P=0.34). Conclusion Conservative treatment predominated in RD, with a lower rate of complications and recurrences, providing data that support conservative therapy as initial treatment in RD in our environment.

Abstract Background Colonic diverticulitis is a leading cause of abdominal pain. The monocyte distribution width (MDW) is a novel inflammatory biomarker with prognostic significance for coronavirus disease and pancreatitis; however, no study has assessed its correlation with the severity of colonic diverticulitis. Methods This single-center retrospective cohort study included patients older than 18 years who presented to the emergency department between November 1, 2020, and May 31, 2021, and received a diagnosis of acute colonic diverticulitis after abdominal computed tomography. The characteristics and laboratory parameters of patients with simple versus complicated diverticulitis were compared. The significance of categorical data was assessed using the chi-square or Fisher’s exact test. The Mann–Whitney U test was used for continuous variables. Multivariable regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of complicated colonic diverticulitis. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves were used to test the efficacy of inflammatory biomarkers in distinguishing simple from complicated cases. Results Of the 160 patients enrolled, 21 (13.125%) had complicated diverticulitis. Although right-sided was more prevalent than left-sided colonic diverticulitis (70% versus 30%), complicated diverticulitis was more common in those with left-sided colonic diverticulitis (61.905%, p = 0.001). Age, white blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophil count, C-reactive protein (CRP) level, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and MDW were significantly higher in the complicated diverticulitis group (p

Colonic diverticulitis is a common gastrointestinal disease which can be acute or chronic in course. In this paper we report the management of a patient with chronic colonic diverticulitis. The patient had an atypical clinical presentation, whose imaging showed a high likelihood of occupying lesions. PET/CT showed hypermetabolism focus and colonoscopy saw mucosal thickening, pathological return of inflammation in the acute phase, which were difficult in differential diagnosis with colorectal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease. After comprehensive consideration, follow-up observation was recommended and the diagnosis was finally clarified. The management of this patient demonstrates the importance of evidence-based medicine in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

Background: The aim of this study was to identify clinical factors leading to increased diagnostic accuracy for acute colonic diverticulitis. Methods: Patients with clinical suspicion of acute colonic diverticulitis verified with computed tomography (CT) from two hospitals in Sweden between 9 January 2017 and 31 October 2017 were prospectively included. Symptoms, comorbidities, and laboratory results were documented. Candidate variables were analyzed using logistic regression, and the final variable set that yielded the most accurate predictions was identified using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression and evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: In total, 146 patients were included (73% women; median age 68 years; age range, 50–94 years). The clinical diagnostic accuracy was 70.5%. In the multiple logistic regression analysis, gender (female vs male odds ratio [OR]: 4.82; confidence interval [CI], 1.56–14.91), age (OR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.87–0.98), pain on the lower left side of the abdomen (OR, 15.14; 95% CI, 2.65–86.58), and absence of vomiting (OR, 14.02; 95% CI, 2.90–67.88) were statistically significant and associated with the diagnosis of CT-verified diverticulitis. With seven predictors (age, gender, urinary symptoms, nausea, temperature, C-reactive protein, and pain left lower side), the area under the ROC curve was 0.82, and a formula was developed for calculating a risk score. Conclusion: We present a scoring system using common clinical variables that can be applied to patients with clinical suspicion of colonic diverticulitis to increase the diagnostic accuracy. The developed scoring system is available for free of charge at https://phille-wagner.shinyapps.io/Diverticulitis_risk_model/.

Abstract Background There is no sufficient overview of outcomes in right-sided and left-sided colonic diverticulitis (CD) following non-operative management. This systematic review was conducted to evaluate the recurrence/treatment failure in right-sided and left-sided CD. Methods A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library from inception to Dec 2021 were searched. The study characteristics, recurrence/treatment failure, and risk factors for recurrence/treatment failure were extracted. Proportional meta-analyses were performed to calculate the pooled recurrent/treatment failure rate of right-sided and left-sided CD using the random effect model. Logistic regression was applied for the factors associated with the recurrence/treatment failure. Results Thirty-eight studies with 10,129 patients were included, and only two studies comprised both sides of CD. None of the studies had a high risk of bias although significant heterogeneity existed. The pooled recurrence rate was 10% (95% CI 8–13%, I2 = 86%, p

Laparoscopic lavage is seen as an acceptable alternative to colonic resection in selected patients with acute diverticulitis with purulent peritonitis. There is no consensus on what surgical technique should be used when performing this procedure. This case series describes the disease course of 3 patients with acute diverticulitis with purulent peritonitis treated with laparoscopic lavage and direct suturing of a colonic perforation. All patients (38- and 71-year-old males and a 44-year-old female) were seen in the emergency department due to acute lower abdominal pain. Clinical examination and laboratory and imaging studies were suggestive of perforated diverticular disease. Laparoscopic lavage with placement of drain(s) and direct suturing of a colonic perforation was performed. Postoperative treatment with intravenous antibiotics was continued for a variable term. Postoperative courses were uneventful. Patients were discharged on postoperative days 5, 5, and 7. At almost 1-year follow-up, all patients are in good clinical condition and have not had a recurrent episode of diverticulitis. Therefore, this case series shows promising results of laparoscopic lavage with direct suturing of colonic perforation in patients with diverticulitis with perforation and purulent peritonitis.

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a rare disease with an incidence of 0.7/100,000 inhabitants per year. Septic PVT (pylephlebitis) usually occurs secondary to infection in the anatomic region drained by the portal venous system. We report on a 76-year-old German male who was admitted with a history of recurrent fever and acute renal failure. Blood cultures taken on admission showed Escherichia coli, as well as Bacteroides uniformis after an extended incubation period of 90 h. In addition, infection with Leptospira spp. was diagnosed serologically. Computerized tomography of the abdomen revealed an extensive PVT along with signs of colonic diverticulitis. Symptoms resolved under prolonged antimicrobial therapy with beta-lactams and adequate heparinization. A myeloproliferative disorder could be excluded. There was no evidence of an underlying coagulation disorder. Imaging controls showed an almost complete resolution of the PVT after 6 months of anticoagulation therapy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of such an “unhappy triad,” which includes atypical manifestations of leptospirosis and involvement of other intestinal bacteria.

Diverticulitis and ulcerative colitis (UC) are two separate colonic pathologies with different underlying mechanisms. Diverticulosis involves herniation of mucosal and submucosal tissue through muscular tissue in response to increased intraluminal pressure. In contrast, it is believed that the muscular tone in patients with UC is reduced due to chronic inflammatory changes. Thus, it has been reported that there may be an inverse relationship between the presence of diverticulosis in patients with UC, in that UC may possibly be protective against developing diverticular disease. Consequently, the co-presence of both pathologies is uncommon. Here we present a case in which a woman with a history of UC and recurrent diverticulitis after elective partial colectomy was admitted for recurrent acute diverticulitis. It is quite challenging to diagnose diverticulitis in ulcerative colitis patients given the usually similar presentation with abdominal pain, diarrhoea and hematochezia. A level of high suspicion is required for diagnosis.

The Japan Gastroenterology Association and the other three societies jointly published the first edition of “Guidelines for Colonic Diverticular Bleeding and Colonic Diverticulitis” in 2019. This guideline presents and explains the epidemiological characteristics, clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment procedures, examination and treatment programs, and prevention of colonic diverticular bleeding and colonic diverticulitis in the form of clinical questions (CQs), and formulated the level of evidence and recommendation intensity. This guideline also provides reference to the Chinese doctors for clinical management of colorectal disease. This article intends to interpret the essentials of colonic diverticulitis section in this guideline.

Introduction. Fecaluria and pneumaturia are the patognomonic signs of an abnormal communication between the bladder and the intestinal tract. Therefore, when a history of digestive signs, symptoms or digestive diseases is missing, this borderline pathology leads the patients in the care of urologists. From diagnosis to treatment the management of these cases can be difficult and challenging. Materials and Methods. A 48 year old patient, without any significant medical history, presented to the emergency room for fecaluria, pneumaturia and an episode of haematuria. He had no prior digestive symptoms. The contrast enhanced abdominal and pelvic CT scan revealed a pelvic mass involving the sigmoid colon and the dome and the posterior wall of the bladder. The cystoscopy objectifies a tumor mass involving the right postero-lateral bladder wall, with extravasation of faeces. A biopsy was taken and the frozen section found mainly uncertain inflammatory type tissue. A colonoscopy couldn’t be done because of an impassable obstacle at 15 cm from the anus. Together with general surgeons we decided for en bloc resection of the tumor with partial cystectomy, right ureterocystoneostomy and rectosigmoid resection with mechanic end to end anastomosis. Results. The postoperative period was uneventful. The histopathological examination revealed an abscessed sigmoid diverticulum with vesico-sigmoid fistula and perilesional inflammatory tissue. Two years after the surgery the patient is asymptomatic with a normal function of the right kidney and restored bladder capacity. Conclusions. Being a borderline pathology, patients with fecaluria and pneumaturia and lack of digestive symptoms are referred and managed by the urologists. Despite extensive investigations, even when preoperative biopsies reveal inflammatory tissue the patients should be treated as oncologic cases. A close cooperation with general surgeons for en bloc multiorgan resection within oncologic safety margins is mandatory.

A 58-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with cauda equina syndrome and sepsis. The symptoms were attributed to a complicated episode of sigmoid diverticulitis. MRI showed that the diverticulitis had caused an intra-abdominal fistula to a presacrally localized abscess expanding into the spinal canal, compressing the cauda equina nerves. Although Hartmann's procedure was performed, the neurological symptoms persisted, causing the patient to remain partially paraplegic. This case report illustrates that cauda equina syndrome is a condition that can also be caused by intra-abdominal pathology such as diverticulitis.

Diverticular disease of the colon is a disease that mainly affects the elderly and presents in 50–70% of those aged 80 years or older. The most common complication is colonic diverticulitis. Eighty percent of patients who present with colonic diverticulitis are aged 50 years and older. Diagnosis and treatment of colonic diverticulitis in the elderly is more difficult and complicated owing to more comorbid conditions. Computed tomography is recommended for diagnosis when colonic diverticulitis is suspected. Most patients admitted with acute colonic diverticulitis respond to conservative treatment, but 15–30% of patients require surgery. Because surgery for acute colonic diverticulitis carries significant rates of morbidity and mortality, conservative treatment is recommended in the elderly. Conservative treatment of colonic diverticulitis with antibiotics, bowel rest, possibly including parenteral alimentation, is usually applied for 1–2 weeks. In the absence of a response to conservative treatment, frequent recurrence or complications (abscesses, fistulas, bowel obstructions, and free perforations), surgery is indicated.

Objetivo: valorar el uso precoz de la tomografía computarizada (TC) para el diagnóstico, estadificación y manejo de la diverticulitis aguda. Material y métodos: realizamos un estudio prospectivo de 102 pacientes con el diagnóstico clínico de diverticulitis aguda de colon izquierdo. La diverticulitis aguda fue inicialmente dividida en tres estadios. Los pacientes fueron reestadiados en los estadios I, IIa, IIb y III de acuerdo a los hallazgos encontrados en la TC. El diagnóstico se confirmó después intraoperatoriamente, por colonoscopia o estudio con bario. Resultados: fueron incluidos 102 pacientes (52 mujeres y 50 hombres) con una edad media de 59,4 (DS ± 14,96). En 84 (82,35%) pacientes con el diagnóstico clínico de diverticulitis aguda se confirmó este diagnóstico con un error diagnóstico del 17,65% (n = 18). La diverticulitis aguda se diagnosticó con la TC en el 84,3% (n = 86). La TC tuvo una sensibilidad del 100% y especificidad del 88,9%. La TC cambió la estadificación clínica en un 38% debido a una infraestadificación del 13% y una sobreestadificación del 25%, que llega al 60 y al 50% en los estadios clínicos II y III, respectivamente. La reclasificación o reestadificación de los pacientes de acuerdo con los hallazgos en la TC tiene una consecuencia importante en la indicación quirúrgica. Conclusiones: la estadificación clínica precoz de la diverticulitis con la TC evita errores de diagnóstico clínico en el 17,65%. La TC modifica la estadificación clínica de severidad en el 38% evitando la cirugía innecesaria y el retraso en el tratamiento quirúrgico.Objectives: to assess the early use of CT for the diagnosis, staging, and management of acute diverticulitis. Materials and methods: a prospective study of 102 patients with a clinical diagnosis of acute diverticulitis of the left colon. Acute diverticulitis was initially divided into 3 clinical stages. Patients were restaged according to CT findings into stages I, IIa, IIb, and III. Diagnosis was subsequently confirmed intraoperatively or by colonoscopy or barium studies. Results: 102 patients (52 females and 50 males, mean age of 59.4 (SD + 14.96 years)) were included; 84 (82.35%) patients with a clinical diagnosis of acute diverticulitis were confirmed to suffer this disease for a diagnostic error of 17.65% (n=18). Acute diverticulitis was diagnosed by CT in 84.3% (n=86). CT had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 88.9%. CT changed clinical stage for 38% of patients - because of understaging in 13% and of overstaging in 25%. When stages II and III were analyzed separately, 60 and 50% were overstaged, respectively. The reclassification of patients according to CT results had a significant impact on treatment. Conclusions: Early clinical staging with CT avoids diagnostic clinical errors in 17.65% of patients. CT changes the initial clinical staging of acute episodes in 38% of cases, thus avoiding unnecessary delays in surgery for severe cases, and unnecessary surgeries for mild cases.