Distant free air is not a contraindication for definitive laparoscopic treatment of acute perforated diverticulitis: a multi-center experience.

The paradigm of emergency laparotomy with sigmoid resection and protective stoma has been challenged for perforated diverticular disease (PDD) with free extraluminal air. Early clinical stabilization could lead to interval laparoscopic resection without stoma within 2 weeks from perforation. Patients admitted for acute diverticulitis underwent abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan. When free air was seen, endoluminal enema was administred. All patients underwent assessement of clinical stability. In unstable patients, upfront emergency surgery was performed. Stable patients underwent a conservative management consisting in fasting, central line intravenous fluids, antibiotic therapy, pain management, O2 therapy and percutaneous radiological drainage when indicated. In successful conservative management early interval surgery was planned within 15 days. Early delayed definitive laparoscopic treatment (EDDLT) was defined as laparoscopic resection of the affected colon without ostomy. A total of 235 patients were admitted to the emergency department for PDD. Among these, 142 had pericolic free air and were excluded from the study. Ninety-three had distant free air. Thirty-seven were hemodynamically unstable and underwent upfront surgery. Fifty-six patients showed a clinical stability and started on EDDLT. EDDLT was successfully performed in 36 patients (64.3%). In 20 patients (35.7%) EDDLT was unsuccessful. At multivariate analysis, distant CT extravasation of endoluminal contrast was independently associated with unsuccessful EDDLT (OR 2.1, CI 0.94-5.32). Patients with distant extraluminal free air after PDD may be treated with early delayed surgery after intensive medical therapy. Distant spread of endoluminal contrast at CT was a risk factor for unsuccessful EDDLT often indicating fecal peritonitis.

Fístula colovesical de origen diverticular. Resolución laparoscópica con nuevo recurso técnico / Diverticular colovesical fistulae. Laparoscopic tip

Introducción: La enfermedad diverticular de colon es una patología de alta prevalencia en nuestro medio. Su presentación inicial como fístulas no complicadas no es frecuente sin antecedentes de episodios de diverticulitis previa. Objetivos: Presentar detalles técnicos de la cirugía de resección y tratamiento laparoscópico de una fistula colovesical de origen diverticular. Materiales y métodos: Se presenta el caso de un paciente varón de 63 años con dolor en hipogastrio sin alteraciones evacuatorias ni cirugías previas. Sin antecedentes de diverticulitis. Se realizó ecografía abdominal y tomografía computada donde se constata aire en vejiga. El urocultivo es positivo para escherichia coli y el colon por enema detecta pequeño trayecto fistuloso entre colon sigmoides y vejiga. Se decide resección laparoscópica. Resultados: Se realizó una colectomía sigmoidea laparoscópica con identificación de trayecto fistuloso a la vejiga que se aisló y seccionó entre clips de polímero. Se completó con anastomosis primara colorrectal y sondaje vesical prolongado que se retiró a los 15 días. Los parámetros postoperatorios fueron favorables con egreso a las 72 hs. Conclusión: La fístula colovesical es una complicación de la enfermedad diverticular de colon aunque es rara su debut como forma de presentación sin episodios de diverticulitis previa. Se destaca su identificación como trayecto único y no hemos encontrado mención al respecto en la bibliografía. Su resolución de ligadura entre clips es una opción terapéutica efectiva y rápida para su resolución definitiva. El abordaje laparoscópico electivo es de elección y su tratamiento mediante el procedimiento propuesto resultó efectivo y seguro.

Background: Diverticular disease is a high prevalent colonic pathology. Initial presentation as complicated disease includes fistulas, perforation and bleeding. Objetive: To present technical surgical aspects of surgical treatment of laporoscopic resection of colovesical fistula after diverticular disease. Methods: A 63 years old patient presented with low abdominal pain and no transit symptoms. There was no previous surgery and diverticulitis episode. Abdominal ultrasound and CT scan showed air in the bladder. Urine culture was positive to Escherichia coli. Colonic barium x-rays showed a colovesical fistula. Laparoscopic resection was decided as treatment of choice. Results: Laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy, aisolation of fistula tract and posterior clips ligation and section. Primary mecanic anastomosis and 15 days vesical catheter completed the treatment. Postoperative evolution was satisfactory. Conclusions: Colovesical fistula is a frequent complication of complicated diverticular disease, however its debut without previous episodes is rare. The colonic fistula presented as unique tract is unfrequent. Resolution by polimer clips and section associated with colonic resection by laparoscopic is a good option to avoid bladder sutures. This procedure resulted safe and effective.

[Surgical Indications for Diverticulitis in Germany: Are All Operations Justified?]. / Operationsindikation der Sigmadivertikulitis in Deutschland: Sind alle Operationen gerechtfertigt?

INTRODUCTION: Pathological changes of preexisting sigma diverticulosis into a state of sigma diverticulitis are possible. Treatment of sigma diverticulitis accounts for a significant proportion of emergency treatments in clinics. The number of patients treated for sigma diverticulitis has risen steadily in recent years. Although it can be observed that operated cases making 7 % compared with 14 % to all stationary admissions, there is a less marked increase. Nevertheless, the question should be clarified as to how high the proportion of complicated surgical cases is in relation to non-complicated cases. It is important to clarify, in this context, if each operation is justified or whether in some cases there is over-treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All data relating to Germany, were prospectively collected by the treating hospitals using the DRG and evaluated by the Federal Statistical Office. The treatment numbers from Erlangen were prospectively collected from the encrypted DRG and analysed retrospectively by the coding officer. The investigated period lasted from 2005 to 2010. To demonstrate some treatment options, the following possible forms of therapy were examined with reference to the Hansen/Stock classification. RESULTS: In Germany, about 40 % of stationary patients with sigma diverticulitis are treated surgically. It is striking that in about two thirds of all operated patients uncomplicated forms of diverticulitis were present. The remainder consisted of covered or free perforations. For these complicated forms, various treatment approaches have been established. Ultimately, in dependence of timing these are always surgically treated. In the milder forms the general indication for surgery has come into discussion as the recommendation for a surgical approach after the second relapse in the symptom-free interval is being questioned by several groups based on the age of the studies on which the recommendations are based. CONCLUSION: A significant increase in hospital admissions and surgically treated patients is demonstrated. Striking was that a closer analysis of data revealed that mainly non-complicated cases were surgically treated. This should be seen as a clear indication for an over-treatment. Therefore, possibly not all surgeries performed are justified. In the case of complicated forms, in consideration of various treatment paths, surgery is inevitable in most cases.

Experience of managing complicated diverticulitis of colon: a retrospective case series from South Asian country.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the morbidity and mortality associated with complicated diverticulitis in Pakistan. METHODS: The retrospective case series was conducted at an urban tertiary care university hospital of Karachi, Pakistan, comprising data from December 1989 to November 2010. International Classification of Diseases codes for diverticular disease and diverticulitis with abscess, fistula, stricture, bowel obstruction and perforation were obtained from the medical record department. SPSS 19 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: A total of 60 (1.9%) cases with complicated diverticulitis were located from among 3170 records reviewed. Mean age was 62.7 +/- 13 years with male-to-female ratio being 36:24. In 37 (62%) patients, the diagnosis was established on computed tomography scan of the abdomen, followed by barium enema in 12 (20%) and colonoscopy in 11 (18%). Post-operative morbidity was observed in 24 (40%) and 7 (16%) expired within 28 days of surgery. Post-operative intra-abdominal sepsis, wound dehiscence and incisional hernia were significantly associated with generalised peritonitis (p < 0.05), while admission to intensive care unit was associated with age over 60 years and faecal peritonitis. Post-operative mortality was significantly associated with high American Society of Anaesthesiologists-score III and IV and age above 60 years. CONCLUSION: Complicated diverticulitis carries significant morbidity and mortality in Pakistani population. Since the trend is on the rise, therefore we propose a prospective multi-centre cohort study to understand the spectrum of disease, management and identification of risk factors to achieve the best possible outcomes in patients with complicated diverticulitis.

Excavated mass and doubletracking in the sigmoid colon due to colocolic fistula complicating diverticulitis.

We report on a patient admitted for work up of prostatic carcinoma in which CT study showed an excavated mass involving the sigmoid colon and the bladder dome. Barium enema showed a double track pattern associated with diverticular disease. By surgery the mass was separated from the urinary bladder and the sigmoid resected. On pathological exam diverticulitis was evident as well as an organised colocolic fistula in the thickened fibrotic subserosal fat.The usefulness of opacifying the colon is highlighted.

Difficulty in differentiating two cases of sigmoid stenosis by diverticulitis from cancer.

The incidence of colonic diverticulosis with or without diverticulitis has increased in the Japanese population due to the modernization of food and aging. The rate of diverticulitis in colon diverticulosis ranges from 8.1% to 9.6%. However, few cases of stenosis due to diverticulitis have been reported. These reports suggest that the differentiation between sigmoid diverticulitis and colon cancer is difficult. This report describes two cases of colon stenosis due to diverticulitis that were difficult to differentiate from colon cancer. Case 1 was a 70-year-old woman with narrowed stools for 1 month who underwent colonofiberscopy (CFS). CFS revealed a diverticulum and circumferential stenosis in the sigmoid colon. Barium enema revealed a marked, hourglass-shaped, 2-cm circumferential stenosis in the sigmoid colon. Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography computed tomography (CT) revealed an increased FDG uptake at the affected portion of the sigmoid colon. Sigmoid colon cancer was suspected, and laparoscopic sigmoidectomy was performed. Pathological examination demonstrated active inflammation with no evidence of malignancy. Case 2 was a 50-year-old man who presented to a nearby clinic with reduced stool output despite the urge to defecate. CFS detected severe stenosis in the sigmoid colon approximately 25 cm from the dentate line. Contrast-enhanced abdominal CT revealed multiple diverticula, wall thickening, and swelling of the lymph nodes around the peritoneal aorta and the inferior mesenteric artery. A partial sigmoidectomy was performed. Pathological examination of the resected specimen revealed no changes in the mucosal epithelial surface, but a marked infiltration of inflammatory cells was observed.

[Colovesical fistula caused by diverticulitis of the sigmoid colon: diagnosis and treatment]. / Kolovesikaler Fisteln auf dem Boden einer Sigmadivertikulitis : Diagnose und Therapie.

BACKGROUND: Colovesical fistulas caused by diverticulitis of the sigmoid colon are a rare but complex disease for which there is so far no diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm. The goal of this retrospective study including long-term follow-up was to find an algorithm for the diagnosis and therapy of colovesical fistulas caused by diverticular disease. METHODS: Between 1982 and 2010 a total of 54 patients (46 male and 8 female) were treated in this institute for a colovesical fistula caused by diverticulitis of the sigmoid colon. The validity of the following diagnostic procedures was considered: poppy seed test, abdominal computed tomography (CT), cystoscopy, coloscopy, cystography and colon enema. The one stage operation included resection of the inflamed colon and a two-lined hand sewn end to end anastomosis of the colon without protective colostomy. After excision of the fistula a two-lined closure of the bladder defect was carried out followed by insertion of a catheter for 7 days. During follow-up patients were examined for recurrence of diverticulitis and colovesical fistula. RESULTS: At primary clinical presentation all patients showed clinical symptoms of recurrent urinary tract infections, 74.1% had pneumaturia and 53.7% fecaluria. Fistula detection rates were 94.8% for the poppy seed test, 58.7% for CT scanning, 19.4% for cystography, 38.6% for colon enema, 15.1% for cystoscopy and 9.6% for coloscopy. Of the patients 6 (11.1%) showed perioperative morbidity (3 pneumonia and 3 superficial wound infections) and mortality was 0%. After surgical intervention no recurring diverticulitis or fistulas were detected within a median follow-up period of 62 months (range 1-164 months). CONCLUSIONS: The poppy seed test is the most reliable diagnostic method for the detection of colovesical fistulas. The one-stage resection of the fistula of the colon and bladder segment without protective colostomy is safe and feasible.

The surgeon's view.

Diverticular disease affects up to 50% of people by the time they reach the age of 80. The major complications of diverticular disease (abscess, perforation, fistula, obstruction and bleeding) have their own management pathways, but the treatment of uncomplicated diverticulitis is controversial. On initial presentation, diverticulitis is always treated conservatively. Whether this should be followed by resectional surgery has been the subject of speculation for many decades. The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons recommended in 2000 that an elective resection should follow two attacks of acute diverticulitis. Much of the work underpinning their policy was based on seminal studies by Parks in the 1960s and 1970s who followed cohorts of patients with diverticular disease and examined their outcomes. However, many of these studies were based on inaccurate diagnostic data where the diagnosis was made primarily on clinical grounds. Investigations such as barium enema or colonoscopy are not reliable in confirming the presence of inflammation. Since CT scanning has become routine, the diagnosis of acute diverticulitis can now be made accurately. In recent years much work has been done, such as by Ambrosetti, who has produced evidence predicting the outcome of diverticulitis based on CT findings. More recent papers, in which the diagnosis of acute diverticulitis is likely to have been made more accurately, confirm that although recurrent attacks of diverticulitis are fairly common, there is a very low incidence of serious complications after long-term follow-up. It has also become apparent that the majority of patients who present with the major complications of diverticulitis, specifically abscess, perforation and fistula, do so as their first presentation of the disease, without previous episodes of diverticulitis. The corollary of this is that patients having had acute diverticulitis do not run the risk of developing life-threatening complications without elective surgery. The complications of left-sided colonic resection are not inconsiderable with anastomotic leaks, the formation of a stoma, either temporary or permanent, as well as mortality. When these data are put alongside the very low risk of serious harm to the patient after diverticulitis, the balance of opinion has now swung heavily in favour of a more conservative approach. In addition to this there are modern and innovative medical therapeutic approaches to the treatment of diverticulitis such as 5ASAs, poorly absorbed antibiotics and probiotics.

Review article: the current and evolving treatment of colonic diverticular disease.

BACKGROUND: Formation of colonic diverticula, via herniation of the colonic wall, is responsible for the development of diverticulosis and consequently diverticular disease. Diverticular disease can be associated with numerous debilitating abdominal and gastrointestinal symptoms (including pain, bloating, nausea, constipation and diarrhoea). AIMS: To review the state of treatment for diverticular disease and its complications, and briefly discuss potential future therapies. METHODS: PubMed and recent conference abstracts were searched for articles describing the treatment of diverticular disease. RESULTS: Many physicians will recommend alterations to lifestyle and increasing fibre consumption. Empirical antibiotics remain the mainstay of therapy for patients with diverticular disease and rifaximin seems to be the best choice. In severe or relapsing disease, surgical intervention is often the only remaining treatment option. Although novel treatment options are yet to become available, the addition of therapies based on mesalazine (mesalamine) and probiotics may enhance treatment efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: Data suggest that diverticular disease may share many of the hallmarks of other, better-characterized inflammatory bowel diseases; however, treatment options for patients with diverticular disease are scarce, revolving around antibiotic treatment and surgery. There is a need for a better understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of diverticular disease to design treatment regimens accordingly.

The Sigma-trial protocol: a prospective double-blind multi-centre comparison of laparoscopic versus open elective sigmoid resection in patients with symptomatic diverticulitis.

BACKGROUND: Diverticulosis is a common disease in the western society with an incidence of 33-66%. 10-25% of these patients will develop diverticulitis. In order to prevent a high-risk acute operation it is advised to perform elective sigmoid resection after two episodes of diverticulitis in the elderly patient or after one episode in the younger (< 50 years) patient. Open sigmoid resection is still the gold standard, but laparoscopic colon resections seem to have certain advantages over open procedures. On the other hand, a double blind investigation has never been performed. The Sigma-trial is designed to evaluate the presumed advantages of laparoscopic over open sigmoid resections in patients with symptomatic diverticulitis. METHOD: Indication for elective resection is one episode of diverticulitis in patients < 50 years and two episodes in patient > 50 years or in case of progressive abdominal complaints due to strictures caused by a previous episode of diverticulits. The diagnosis is confirmed by CT-scan, barium enema and/or coloscopy. It is required that the participating surgeons have performed at least 15 laparoscopic and open sigmoid resections. Open resection is performed by median laparotomy, laparoscopic resection is approached by 4 or 5 cannula. Sigmoid and colon which contain serosal changes or induration are removed and a tension free anastomosis is created. After completion of either surgical procedure an opaque dressing will be used, covering from 10 cm above the umbilicus to the pubic bone. Surgery details will be kept separate from the patient's notes. Primary endpoints are the postoperative morbidity and mortality. We divided morbidity in minor (e.g. wound infection), major (e.g. anastomotic leakage) and late (e.g. incisional hernias) complications, data will be collected during hospital stay and after six weeks and six months postoperative. Secondary endpoints are the operative and the postoperative recovery data. Operative data include duration of the operation, blood loss and conversion to laparotomy. Post operative recovery consists of return to normal diet, pain, analgesics, general health (SF-36 questionnaire) and duration of hospital stay. DISCUSSION: The Sigma-trial is a prospective, multi-center, double-blind, randomized study to define the role of laparoscopic sigmoid resection in patients with symptomatic diverticulitis.

Preoperative mechanical preparation of the colon: the patient's experience.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative mechanical bowel preparation can be questioned as standard procedure in colon surgery, based on the result from several randomised trials. METHODS: As part of a large multicenter trial, 105 patients planned for elective colon surgery for cancer, adenoma, or diverticulitis in three hospitals were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding perceived health including experience with bowel preparation. There were 39 questions, each having 3 - 10 answer alternatives, dealing with food intake, pain, discomfort, nausea/vomiting, gas distension, anxiety, tiredness, need of assistance with bowel preparation, and willingness to undergo the procedure again if necessary. RESULTS: 60 patients received mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) and 45 patients did not (No-MBP). In the MBP group 52% needed assistance with bowel preparation and 30% would consider undergoing the same preoperative procedure again. In the No-MBP group 65 % of the patients were positive to no bowel preparation. There was no significant difference between the two groups with respect to postoperative pain and nausea. On Day 4 (but not on Days 1 and 7 postoperatively) patients in the No-MBP group perceived more discomfort than patients in the MBP group, p = 0.02. Time to intake of fluid and solid food did not differ between the two groups. Bowel emptying occurred significantly earlier in the No-MBP group than in the MBP group, p = 0.03. CONCLUSION: Mechanical bowel preparation is distressing for the patient and associated with a prolonged time to first bowel emptying.

Fístula colovaginal secundaria a enfermedad diverticular complicada / Colovaginal fistula secondary to complicated diverticular disease

La fístula colovaginal es de ocurrencia excepcional en la práctica clínica, sin embargo, cuando se presenta, la enfermedad diverticular es una de las etiologías más frecuentes. Se presentan tres casos de fístula colovaginal que complican un enfermedad diverticular tratados por autores. Todas las pacientes tenían antecedentes de una histerectomía por vía abdominal, y la primera manifestación clínica de la fístula fue la pérdida de gases y deposiciones por la vagina. Solo en una de ellas existía el antecedente de una diverculitis. Los estudios preoperatorios incluyeron un enema baritado, que demostró la fístula en todos los casos, una colonoscopia en solo una, que fue incompleta por estenosis del sigmoides distal a la fístula y tomografía computada de abdomen en otro paciente que demostró una diverticulitis aguda. Las tres pacientes fueron sometidas a una sigmoidectomía con anastomosis mecánica a nivel del promontorio con buena evolución postoperatoria. Se plantea que la existencia de una fístula colovaginal, sobre todo si existe el antecedente de una histerectomía debe hacer plantear entre otras alternativas, la etiología diverticular. La sigmoidectomía es el tratamiento de elección evitando reparaciones por vía vaginal, que no tratan el origen de la fístula.

Diverticulitis del colon derecho. Hallazgos en ecografía y tomografía computarizada / Right colon diverticulitis

Objetivo: Describir los hallazgos de la diverticulitis del colon derecho (DCD) en ecografía (Eco) y tomografía computarizada (TC) y mostrar que ambas técnicas pueden ser complementarias en su diagnóstico. Material y métodos: Se revisaron los hallazgos clínicos y radiológicos de 14 pacientes diagnosticados de DCD en nuestro hospital en los últimos siete años. Se realizó Eco en todos los casos y TC en 11.Se valoraron los siguientes hallazgos: visualización del divertículo, afectación de la grasa pericolónica, engrosamiento de las paredes del colon e identificación del apéndice. Resultados: Tanto en la Eco como en la TC se observó en todos los casos afectación de la grasa pericolónica y engrosamiento de las paredes del colon. La imagen de divertículo fue visualizada con Eco y TC en 13 (93 por ciento) y 11 (100 por ciento) casos, respectivamente. El apéndice normal se identificó en siete (58 por ciento) casos con Eco y en cinco (55 por ciento) con TC. El diagnóstico radiológico en urgencias fue DCD en nueve casos, apendicitis aguda (AA) o neoplasia de colon en dos casos cada una y masa inflamatoria de origen no definido en un paciente. Conclusiones: Los hallazgos más frecuentes en Eco son la visualización de un divertículo junto a la pared de un segmento engrosado de colon, rodeado de un área de grasa hiperecoica. La confirmación de estos hallazgos en la TC permiten aumentar el nivel de confianza en el diagnóstico. El conocimiento de esta enfermedad y sus hallazgos diagnósticos entre los radiólogos ayudará a reconocerla preoperatoriamente, y se evitarán cirugías innecesarias (AU)

It is not always appendicitis.

BACKGROUND: Patients who are suspected of having acute appendicitis usually undergo surgery in order to avoid life-threatening complications such as perforation and peritonitis. However, acute appendicitis is difficult to distinguish from other sources of right-sided abdominal pain. The clinical picture is almost indistinguishable from appendiceal diverticulitis, which is a rare entity and remains a difficult diagnostic problem. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We describe the case of a 39-year-old male with perforated appendiceal diverticulitis. The patient was admitted to our surgical unit with acute appendicitis-like symptoms and underwent surgery with a diagnosis of suspected acute appendicitis. RESULTS: The patient was found to have perforated appendiceal diverticulitis and standard appendectomy with abdominal lavage was carried out. DISCUSSION: Most patients presenting with acute right-sided peritonitic pain are diagnosed and managed as cases of acute appendicitis. Acute pain in the lower right side of the abdomen caused by appendiceal diverticulitis is very rare and clinically indistinguishable from acute appendicitis. Inflammatory complications of appendiceal diverticula mimic acute appendicitis. CONCLUSION: Every surgeon should be aware of the possibility of diverticulitis of the appendix in the operating room, even if this does not change the operative management. As diverticula of the cecum can be found as solitary lesions, as multiple lesions confined to the right colon, or as part of a generalized disease of the entire colon, postoperative barium enema examination may be useful.

Recurrence rates at minimum five-year follow-up: laparoscopic versus open sigmoid resection for uncomplicated diverticulitis.

The aim of the study was to compare the impact of surgical access to sigmoid resection on recurrence rates in patients with uncomplicated diverticulitis of the sigmoid (UDS) at a minimum follow-up of five years. Recurrence after surgery was defined as left lower quadrant pain, fever and leucocytosis with consistent CT and enema findings on admission and at 6 weeks, respectively. Outcome measures included splenic flexure mobilization, specimen length, inflammation at proximal resection margin and presence of teniae coli at distal resection margin. Seventy-nine patients undergoing laparoscopic sigmoid resection (LSR) were compared with 79 matched controls with open sigmoid resection (OSR) operated on at two institutions during the same period. Patients were well matched for age, gender, body mass index, ASA grading and symptoms duration, but not for follow-up length (81.9 vs. 86.9 months, p = 0.046). The rate of splenic flexure mobilization (19 vs. 41, p 0.001), specimen length (16.1 vs. 18.3 cm, p = 0.048), presence of inflammation at proximal resection margin (21 vs. 4, p 0.001), and presence of teniae coli at distal resection margin (4 vs. 53, p 0.001). Three LSR patients and 7 OSR patients had one recurrence (p = 0.19). There were no significant differences in rates of flexure mobilization, specimen length, and rates of inflammation present at proximal resection margin in 10 recurring and 145 non-recurring patients. The rate of teniae coli present at distal resection margin was significantly increased in recurring patients (7 vs. 43, p = 0.03). Surgical access to sigmoid resection for UDS is unlikely to have an impact on recurrence rates provided that the oral bowel end is anastomosed to the proximal rectum rather than to the distal sigmoid.

Spectrum of disease and outcome of complicated diverticular disease.

BACKGROUND: Diverticular disease is a common entity. The presentation, investigations performed, and management are variable. Our objectives were to assess the presentation, extent of disease, and treatment of a cohort of patients with colonic diverticulitis. METHODS: All patients with a diagnosis of diverticulitis over a 9-year period were reviewed. Patients were assessed as to age, sex, presenting symptoms, diagnostic studies, extent of disease, treatment, and outcome. RESULTS: Over a 9-year period (1992 to 2001), 192 patients were admitted with a diagnosis of colonic diverticulitis. The mean age was 61 years (range 28 to 90); 113 of 192 (59%) were female. The mean duration of symptoms prior to presentation was 14 days (range 1 to 270 days). One hundred eighteen of 192 (61%) had a previous documented attack of diverticulitis. Of the investigations performed 128 of 192 (66.7%) had a computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen and pelvis, 37 of 192 (20%) underwent a contrast enema, 61 of 192 (32%) underwent colonoscopy and 2 of 192 (1%) underwent a small bowel series. The abnormal findings on the CT scan were as follows: diverticular abscess (16%), diverticulitis (37%), diverticulosis without inflammation (15%), free air (10%) and fistula (1%). The locations of the diverticular abscesses were: pelvic (36%), pericolic sigmoid (36%), and "other," which included interloop (28%). Preoperative abscess drainage occurred in 10 of 192 (5%), which were either percutaneous, 6 of 192 (3%), or transrectal, 4 of 192 (2%). Nine of 192 (6%) presented with a fistula, colovesical fistulae (3%), colocutaneous (1%), enterocolic (1%), or colovaginal (1%). Overall, 73 of 192 (38%) underwent surgery. All patients undergoing surgery had a resection of their colon. The operative findings were localized abscess in 16 of 73 (22%), purulent/feculent peritonitis in 12 of 73 (17%), and phlegmon in 10 of 73 (14%). Sixty-seven of 73 (92%) had a primary resection with anastomosis; 38 of 67 (56%) had a protecting stoma. Five of 73 (7%) patients were found to have an unsuspected carcinoma. Overall, 29 of 192 (15%) developed a complication related to diverticulitis. Morbidity was 15.1%, of which 34% was infection related. Four of 192 patients (2%) died. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, most patients presented with abdominal pain predominantly in the left lower quadrant. The symptoms were present on average of 14 days, most were female (59%), and most patients had a previous attack of diverticulitis. The commonest investigation performed was a CT scan (66.7%); however, other investigations were performed, for example, barium enemas. The practice of resection and primary anastomosis for acute diverticulitis has an acceptable morbidity and mortality. For high-risk anastomoses, a covering loop ileostomy and not a Hartmann's procedure is preferred. Surgery remains safe for the majority of patients and is associated with resolution of symptoms. We believe that because of the high number of patients in our series who had a previous attack of diverticulitis, therapy should be focused on preventing recurrent and virulent attacks by earlier operative intervention.

Recurrence rates at minimum 5-year follow-up: laparoscopic versus open sigmoid resection for uncomplicated diverticulitis.

The aim of the study was to compare the impact of surgical access to sigmoid resection on recurrence rates in patients with uncomplicated diverticulitis of the sigmoid (UDS) at a minimum follow-up of 5 years. Recurrence after surgery was defined as left lower quadrant pain, fever, and leucocytosis with consistent CT and enema findings on admission and at 6 weeks, respectively. Outcome measures included splenic flexure mobilization, specimen length, inflammation at proximal resection margin, and presence of teniae coli at distal resection margin. Seventy-nine patients undergoing laparoscopic sigmoid resection (LSR) were compared with 79 matched controls with open sigmoid resection (OSR) operated on at 2 institutions during the same period. Patients were well matched for age, gender, body mass index, ASA grading, and symptoms duration, but not for follow-up length (81.9 versus 86.9 months, P = 0.046). Differences in rates of splenic flexure mobilization (19 versus 41, P < 0.001), specimen length (16.1 versus 18.3 cm, P = 0.048), inflammation at proximal resection margin (21 versus 4, P < 0.001), and teniae coli at distal resection margin (4 versus 53, P < 0.001) did not show an impact on recurrence rates when comparison was made between LSR and OSR. Three LSR patients and 7 OSR patients had 1 recurrence (P = 0.19). There were no significant differences in rates of flexure mobilization, specimen length, and rates of inflammation present at proximal resection margin in 10 recurring and 145 non-recurring patients. The rate of teniae coli present at distal resection margin was significantly increased in recurring patients (7 versus 43, P = 0.03). Median time of recurrence after surgery was 29 (range 18-74) months. Two of 11 recurrences occurred after 5 years. Surgical access to sigmoid resection for UDS is unlikely to have an impact on recurrence rates provided that the oral bowel end is anastomosed to the proximal rectum rather than to the distal sigmoid.

Determinants of recurrence after sigmoid resection for uncomplicated diverticulitis.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of surgery-associated variables on recurrence rates after sigmoid resection for diverticulitis. METHODS: Patients who underwent elective sigmoid resection for uncomplicated diverticulitis between 1992 and 2000 at two tertiary referral centers were followed up for recurrent disease as the primary end point. Recurrence after surgery was defined as left lower quadrant pain, fever, and leukocytosis, with consistent CT and/or contrast enema findings on admission and after six weeks. A logistic regression of the following variables was undertaken: patient demographics, duration of preoperative symptoms, previous admissions and abdominal surgery, surgical access (laparoscopic or open), postoperative complications, splenic flexure mobilization, anastomotic technique (handsewn or stapled), specimen length, inflammation at proximal resection margin, and anastomotic level (colosigmoid or colorectal). The last three variables were defined by the pathologist. Anastomosis level was based on muscle layer configuration (taeniae coli) at the distal resection margin. RESULTS: Two hundred thirty-six patients (105 females) with a mean age of 60.4 (standard deviation, +/- 10) years were available for follow-up at 67 +/- 30 (range, 11-130) months. The median duration of preoperative symptoms was 18 (range, 12-120) months. All but one (99 percent) patient had at least one admission before surgery. One hundred forty (59 percent) and 96 (41 percent) patients underwent laparoscopic or open resection, respectively. The conversion rate was 13 percent (18 patients) in the former group and the 30-day complication rate was 23 percent, with 0.4 percent 30-day mortality and a 2.1 percent reoperation rate. The splenic flexure was mobilized in 109 patients (47 percent). Anastomoses were fashioned by stapler in 171 patients (73 percent) and were to the rectum in 143 patients (72 percent). Specimen length was 17.9 +/- 5.9 (range, 9-47) cm with inflammation at the proximal margin in 30 patients (14 percent). Twelve (5 percent) patients developed a recurrence at a mean of 78 +/- 25 (range, 34-109) months with reoperation in one (0.4 percent). The level of anastomosis was the only predictor of recurrence in regression analysis (P = 0.033). Patients with colosigmoid anastomosis had a four times higher risk of having a recurrence compared with patients with colorectal anastomosis (odds ratio, 95 percent confidence interval = 1.12, 14.96). CONCLUSION: Colorectal (rather than colosigmoid) anastomosis was the single predictor of lower recurrence rates after elective sigmoid resection for uncomplicated diverticulitis.

[Standards in diagnosis of diverticulitis]. / Standards in der Diagnostik der Divertikulitis.

The diagnostic procedure is determined by the severity of the diverticulitis. In complicated cases of diverticulitis, it is necessary to detect those patients with obstructive ileus, perforation, and peritonitis who require instant emergency surgery. In all other cases, diagnostic procedures serve as a tool to determine the best therapeutic options. The CT scan of the abdomen seems to have the highest reliability for determining therapy. Other investigations such as barium enema and coloscopy are not indicated in emergency cases or cannot exactly describe the stage of the diverticular disease. Many surgeons still prefer an enema with water-soluble contrast medium in emergency cases to visualize a perforation. CT scans have the same ability to answer this question, but they are more expensive and are not available everywhere at any given time.