Colonic diverticulosis is associated with abdominal wall hernia

Prior abdominal surgery as a potential risk factor for colonic diverticulosis or diverticulitis

BACKGROUND

Abnormal colonic pressure profiles have been associated with an increased risk of colonic diverticulosis. A surgical history is a known risk factor for abdominal adhesions and these may lead to increased intraluminal colonic pressure.

AIM

To assess whether previous abdominal surgery is associated with colonic diverticulosis or diverticulitis.

METHODS

We analyzed data from a study of patients undergoing colonoscopy for different indications from 2020 through 2021. Patients completed a structured questionnaire concerning previous abdominal surgeries, dietary and lifestyle exposures including smoking, alcohol use and co-morbidities.

RESULTS

Three hundred and fifty-nine patients were included in the study. The mean age was 67.6 and 46% were females. Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic renal failure, and body mass index were similar in the diverticulosis and control groups. The overall prevalence of colonic diverticulosis was 25% (91/359) and 48% of the patients had previous abdominal surgery. As expected, the prevalence of diverticulosis increased with age. There was no difference in the rate of previous abdominal surgery between patients with or without diverticulosis (49% vs 47%, P = 0.78). In regards to specific surgeries, inguinal hernia repair was significantly associated with diverticulosis (52% vs 20%, P = 0.001), but not diverticulitis. In contrast, appendectomy was not associated with diverticulosis (6% vs 14%, P = 0.048).

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that post-operative abdominal adhesions inducing high colonic intraluminal pressures do not appear to be the mechanism for diverticula formation. Rather, inguinal hernia and diverticulosis may share similar connective tissue pathologies with no causative relationship between them.

Clinical Impacts of Juxtapapillary Duodenal Diverticulum Detected on Computed Tomography

BACKGROUND

Diverticula are commonly observed in the duodenum. Duodenal diverticulum (DD) usually does not give symptoms throughout life and is diagnosed by coincidence. However, it may present with different symptoms in patients.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of DD and juxtapapillary duodenal diverticulum (JDD) and its association with other possible pathologies and to determine its clinical impact by using Computed Tomography (CT).

METHODS

This retrospective observational study, which was taken consecutively between the years of 2013-2020, was evaluated in the Radiology Department. The total number of cases was 4850 (male-2440; female-2410). CT images were evaluated by two experienced radiologists at the workstation. DD and JDD prevalence and clinical findings in the hospital registry system were examined.

RESULTS

The age of the patients included in the study ranged from 17 to 92 years (mean age 46.94±16.42). In patients with DD (female-130; male-101), mean age was 62.24 ± 12.69 (21-92). The prevalence of DD was 4.76% (n=231). The prevalence of JDD was 4.02% (n=195) and increased with age (p<0.01). The average diameter of the JDD was measured as 23.29±8.22(9.5-55.3) mm. A significant positive correlation was found between age and DD diameter (p=0.039). DDs were found most commonly 84.42% (n=195) in the second segment of the duodenum as JDD. In patients with JDD, the mean diameter of choledochus and wirsung canal were 6.7 ± 2.4 (3-15.3) mm and 0.31 ± 0.1 (0.1-6.5) mm respectively. The choledochal diameter was correlated with the JDD size (p = 0.004). Cholelithiasis (n=56), choledocholithiasis (n=20), cholecystitis (n=52), diverticulitis (n=15), duodenitis (n=37), pancreatitis (n=5) and hiatal hernia (n=60) with JDD were observed. Periampullary carcinoma was detected in one patient.

CONCLUSION

Our study shows that cholelithiasis, choledocholithiasis, cholecystitis, diverticulitis, duodenitis, pancreatitis may be associated with JDD. Therefore, in contrast-enhanced abdominal CT scans taken for various reasons, investigation of the presence and characteristics of JDD and detection of pathologies that may be associated with JDD are important for patients to benefit from early diagnosis and treatment opportunities and to take precautions against possible complications.

Relationship Between Diverticular Disease and Incisional Hernia After Elective Colectomy: a Population-Based Study

BACKGROUND

Recent genetic studies identified common mutations between diverticular disease and connective tissue disorders, some of which are associated with abdominal wall hernias. Scarce data exists, however, shedding light on the potential clinical implications of this shared etiology, particularly in the era of laparoscopic surgery.

METHODS

The New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System database was used to identify adult patients undergoing elective sigmoid and left hemicolectomy (open or laparoscopic) from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2016, for diverticulitis or descending/sigmoid colon cancer. The incidences of incisional hernia diagnosis and repair were compared using competing risks regression models, clustered by surgeon and adjusted for a host of demographic/clinical variables. Subsequent abdominal surgery and death were considered competing risks.

RESULTS

Among 8279 patients included in the study cohort, 6811 (82.2%) underwent colectomy for diverticulitis and 1468 (17.8%) for colon cancer. The overall 5-year risk of incisional hernia was 3.5% among patients with colon cancer, regardless of colectomy route, which was significantly lower than that among diverticulitis patients after both open (10.7%; p < 0.001) and laparoscopic (7.2%; p = 0.007) colectomies. Multivariable analyses demonstrated that patients with diverticulitis experienced a two-fold increase in the risk for hernia diagnosis (aHR 1.8; p < 0.001) and repair (aHR 2.1; p < 0.001), and these findings persisted after stratification by colectomy route.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients undergoing elective colectomy for diverticulitis, including via laparoscopic approach, experience higher rates of incisional hernia compared with patients undergoing similar resections for colon cancer. When performing resections for diverticulitis, surgeons should strongly consider adherence to evidence-based guidelines for fascial closure to prevent this important complication.

Outcomes of abdominal wall reconstruction in patients with the combination of complex midline and lateral incisional hernias

BACKGROUND

The best treatment for the combined defects of midline and lateral incisional hernia is not known. The aim of our multicenter study was to evaluate the operative and patient-reported outcomes using a modified posterior component separation in patients who present with the combination of midline and lateral incisional hernia.

METHODS

We identified patients from a prospective, multicenter database who underwent operative repairs of a midline and lateral incisional hernia at 4 centers with minimum 2-year follow-up. Hernias were divided into a main hernia based on the larger size and associated abdominal wall hernias. Outcomes reported were short- and long-term complications, including recurrence, pain, and bulging. Quality of life was assessed with the European Registry for Abdominal Wall Hernias Quality of Life score.

RESULTS

Fifty-eight patients were identified. Almost 70% of patients presented with a midline defect as the main incisional hernia. The operative technique was a transversus abdominis release in 26 patients (45%), a modification of transversus abdominis release 27 (47%), a reverse transversus abdominis release in 3 (5%), and a primary, lateral retromuscular preperitoneal approach in 2 (3%). Surgical site occurrences occurred in 22 patients (38%), with only 8 patients (14%) requiring procedural intervention. During a mean follow-up of 30.1 ± 14.4 months, 2 (3%) cases of recurrence were diagnosed and required reoperation. There were also 4 (7%) patients with asymptomatic but visible bulging. The European Registry for Abdominal Wall Hernias Quality of Life score showed a statistically significant decrease in the 3 domains (pain, restriction, and cosmetic) in the postoperative score compared with the preoperative score.

CONCLUSION

The different techniques of posterior component separation in the treatment of combined midline and lateral incisional hernia show acceptable results, despite the associated high complexity. Patient-reported outcomes after measurement of the European Registry for Abdominal Wall Hernias Quality of Life score demonstrated a clinically important improvement in quality of life and pain.

Guidelines for treatment of umbilical and epigastric hernias from the European Hernia Society and Americas Hernia Society

BACKGROUND

Umbilical and epigastric hernia repairs are frequently performed surgical procedures with an expected low complication rate. Nevertheless, the optimal method of repair with best short- and long-term outcomes remains debatable. The aim was to develop guidelines for the treatment of umbilical and epigastric hernias.

METHODS

The guideline group consisted of surgeons from Europe and North America including members from the European Hernia Society and the Americas Hernia Society. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach, the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) critical appraisal checklists, and the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) instrument were used. A systematic literature search was done on 1 May 2018, and updated on 1 February 2019.

RESULTS

Literature reporting specifically on umbilical and epigastric hernias was limited in quantity and quality, resulting in a majority of the recommendations being graded as weak, based on low-quality evidence. The main recommendation was to use mesh for repair of umbilical and epigastric hernias to reduce the recurrence rate. Most umbilical and epigastric hernias may be repaired by an open approach with a preperitoneal flat mesh. A laparoscopic approach may be considered if the hernia defect is large, or if the patient has an increased risk of wound morbidity.

CONCLUSION

This is the first European and American guideline on the treatment of umbilical and epigastric hernias. It is recommended that symptomatic umbilical and epigastric hernias are repaired by an open approach with a preperitoneal flat mesh.

Diverticulosis and nine connective tissue disorders: epidemiological support for an association

Purpose: An underlying connective tissue disorder (CTD) may predispose to formation of intestinal diverticula. We assess the association of diverticulosis with nine selected CTDs, to inform the pathophysiology of diverticula. Methods: A population-based period-prevalence study. Individuals (3.5 million New Zealand residents born 1901-1986) with a health system record 1999-2016 were grouped into those with a hospital diagnosis of diverticulosis or diverticulitis (ICD-10-AM K57), and those without. Also recorded were any hospital diagnoses of nine selected CTDs. The association of exposure to diverticulosis and each CTD was assessed using logistic regressions adjusted for age, gender, ethnicity and region. Results: In all, 85,958 (2.4%) people had a hospital diagnosis of diverticulosis. Hospitalisation with diverticulosis was highly significantly associated with rectal prolapse (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 3.9), polycystic kidney disease (OR = 3.8), heritable syndromes (Marfan or Ehlers-Danlos) (OR = 2.4), female genital prolapse (OR = 2.3), non-aortic aneurysm (OR = 2.3), aortic aneurysm (OR = 2.2), inguinal hernia (OR = 1.9) and dislocations of shoulder and other joints (OR = 1.7), but not subarachnoid haemorrhage (OR = 1.0). Conclusion: People with diverticulosis are more likely to have colonic extracellular matrix (ECM)/connective tissue alterations in anatomical areas other than the bowel, suggesting linked ECM/connective tissue pathology. Although biases may exist, the results indicate large-scale integrated studies are needed to investigate underlying genetic pathophysiology of colonic diverticula, together with fundamental biological studies to investigate cellular phenotypes and ECM changes.