Diverticular Disease of the Colon: Neuromuscular Function Abnormalities

Diverticulitis is a population health problem: Lessons and gaps in strategies to implement and improve contemporary care

The disease burden of diverticulitis is high across inpatient and outpatient settings, and the prevalence of diverticulitis has increased. Historically, patients with acute diverticulitis were admitted routinely for intravenous antibiotics and many had urgent surgery with colostomy or elective surgery after only a few episodes. Several recent studies have challenged the standards of how acute and recurrent diverticulitis are managed, and many clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) have pivoted to recommend outpatient management and individualized decisions about surgery. Yet the rates of diverticulitis hospitalizations and operations are increasing in the United States, suggesting there is a disconnect from or delay in adoption of CPGs across the spectrum of diverticular disease. In this review, we propose approaching diverticulitis care from a population level to understand the gaps between contemporary studies and real-world practice and suggest strategies to implement and improve future care.

Ultrasonographic and Functional Features of Symptomatic Uncomplicated Diverticular Disease

INTRODUCTION

To evaluate the ability of intestinal ultrasound (IUS) in discriminating symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease (SUDD) among patients with abdominal symptoms including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

METHODS

This observational, prospective study included consecutive patients classified into the following categories: (i) SUDD; (ii) IBS; (iii) unclassifiable abdominal symptoms; and (iv) controls, including asymptomatic healthy subjects and diverticulosis. The IUS evaluation of the sigmoid: assessed the presence of diverticula, thickness of the muscularis propria, and IUS-evoked pain, namely the intensity of pain evoked by compression with the ultrasound probe on sigmoid colon compared with an area of the left lower abdominal quadrant without underlying sigmoid colon.

RESULTS

We enrolled 40 patients with SUDD, 20 patients with IBS, 28 patients with unclassifiable abdominal symptoms, 10 healthy controls, and 20 patients with diverticulosis. Patients with SUDD displayed significantly ( P < 0.001) greater muscle thickness (2.25 ± 0.73 mm) compared with patients with IBS (1.66 ± 0.32 mm), patients with unclassifiable abdominal pain, and healthy subjects, but comparable with that of patients with diverticulosis (2.35 ± 0.71 mm). Patients with SUDD showed a greater (not significant) differential pain score than other patients. There was a significant correlation between the thickness of the muscularis propria and the differential pain score only for patients with SUDD ( r = 0.460; P : 0.01). Sigmoid diverticula were detected by colonoscopy in 40 patients (42.4%) and by IUS with a sensitivity of 96.0% and a specificity of 98.5%.

DISCUSSION

IUS could represent a useful diagnostic tool for SUDD, potentially useful in characterizing the disease and appropriately address the therapeutic approach.

Symptomatic Uncomplicated Diverticular Disease (SUDD): Practical Guidance and Challenges for Clinical Management

Symptomatic Uncomplicated Diverticular Disease (SUDD) is a syndrome within the diverticular disease spectrum, characterized by local abdominal pain with bowel movement changes but without systemic inflammation. This narrative review reports current knowledge, delivers practical guidance, and reveals challenges for the clinical management of SUDD. A broad and common consensus on the definition of SUDD is still needed. However, it is mainly considered a chronic condition that impairs quality of life (QoL) and is characterized by persistent left lower quadrant abdominal pain with bowel movement changes (eg, diarrhea) and low-grade inflammation (eg, elevated calprotectin) but without systemic inflammation. Age, genetic predisposition, obesity, physical inactivity, low-fiber diet, and smoking are considered risk factors. The pathogenesis of SUDD is not entirely clarified. It seems to result from an interaction between fecal microbiota alterations, neuro-immune enteric interactions, and muscular system dysfunction associated with a low-grade and local inflammatory state. At diagnosis, it is essential to assess baseline clinical and Quality of Life (QoL) scores to evaluate treatment efficacy and, ideally, to enroll patients in cohort studies, clinical trials, or registries. SUDD treatments aim to improve symptoms and QoL, prevent recurrence, and avoid disease progression and complications. An overall healthy lifestyle - physical activity and a high-fiber diet, with a focus on whole grains, fruits, and vegetables - is encouraged. Probiotics could effectively reduce symptoms in patients with SUDD, but their utility is missing adequate evidence. Using Rifaximin plus fiber and Mesalazine offers potential in controlling symptoms in patients with SUDD and might prevent acute diverticulitis. Surgery could be considered in patients with medical treatment failure and persistently impaired QoL. Still, studies with well-defined diagnostic criteria for SUDD that evaluate the safety, QoL, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of these interventions using standard scores and comparable outcomes are needed.

Pathophysiology of Diverticular Disease: From Diverticula Formation to Symptom Generation

Diverticular disease is a common clinical problem, particularly in industrialized countries. In most cases, colonic diverticula remain asymptomatic throughout life and sometimes are found incidentally during colonic imaging in colorectal cancer screening programs in otherwise healthy subjects. Nonetheless, roughly 25% of patients bearing colonic diverticula develop clinical manifestations. Abdominal symptoms associated with diverticula in the absence of inflammation or complications are termed symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease (SUDD). The pathophysiology of diverticular disease as well as the mechanisms involved in the shift from an asymptomatic condition to a symptomatic one is still poorly understood. It is accepted that both genetic factors and environment, as well as intestinal microenvironment alterations, have a role in diverticula development and in the different phenotypic expressions of diverticular disease. In the present review, we will summarize the up-to-date knowledge on the pathophysiology of diverticula and their different clinical setting, including diverticulosis and SUDD.

Acute diverticulitis: old challenge, current trends, open questions

Acute diverticulitis (AD) is an increasing issue for health systems worldwide. As accuracy of clinical symptoms and laboratory examinations is poor, a pivotal role in preoperative diagnosis and severity assessment is played by CT scan. Several new classifications trying to adapt the intraoperative Hinchey's classification to preoperative CT findings have been proposed, but none really entered clinical practice. Treatment of early AD is mostly conservative (antibiotics) and may be administered in outpatients in selected cases. Larger abscesses (exceeding 3 to 5 cm) need percutaneous drainage, while management of stages 3 (purulent peritonitis) and 4 (fecal peritonitis) is difficult to standardize, as various approaches are nowadays suggested. Three situations are identified: situation A, stage 3 in stable/healthy patients, where various options are available, including conservative management, lavage/drainage and primary resection/anastomosis w/without protective stoma; situation B, stage 3 in unstable and/or unhealthy patients, and stage 4 in stable/healthy patients, where stoma-protected primary resection/anastomosis or Hartmann procedure should be performed; situation C, stage 4 in unstable and/or unhealthy patients, where Hartmann procedure or damage control surgery (resection without any anastomosis/stoma) are suggested. Late, elective sigmoid resection is less and less performed, as a new trend towards a patient-tailored management is spreading.

Diverticular Disease in the Elderly

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

While few diseases are limited solely to the elderly, diverticular disease is clearly more prevalent with increasing age and therefore the aim of this review is to focus on the clinical implications of diverticular disease in the elderly.

RECENT FINDINGS

Diverticulitis in the elderly is best managed with an individualized treatment approach including considerations for selective antibiotic usage even in uncomplicated disease. Furthermore, due to the increased prevalence of ischemic colitis in the elderly and the similarities in presentation with diverticular hemorrhage, there needs to be a high index of suspicion and appropriate evaluation for ischemic colitis in patients with hematochezia, particularly if they have abdominal pain. The elderly are a vulnerable population where the index of suspicion for complications of diverticular disease should be high.

Diagnosis of symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease and the role of Rifaximin in management

Patients with diverticulosis who develop persistent abdominal pain, bloating and changes in bowel habits not associated with overt inflammation may have symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease (SUDD). The severity and frequency of SUDD symptoms may have an impact on daily activities and severely affect quality of life. Effective management of SUDD should follow a three part strategy: divert, tackle and maintain. Divert to make the correct diagnosis: several symptoms of SUDD are common to other conditions that require different therapeutic approaches. However, several key differences should be used to diagnose SUDD. Pain in SUDD is normally in the iliac fossa, persistent, often lasting more than 24 hrs, and is not relieved by bowel movement, as is often the case with irritable bowel syndrome. Another difference is in the timing: the prevalence of SUDD increases with age, and patients under the age of 40 years are less likely to have diverticula. It is useful to establish whether a patient has diverticulosis, especially if the patient is relatively young; lack of diverticula excludes SUDD. Cross-sectional imaging is indicated; however, recent archival image data or ultrasonography may be useful alternatives. Laboratory tests should be ordered to exclude overt inflammation. Once the diagnosis of SUDD is made, the patient should receive effective therapy to tackle the condition. This should include dietary fibre supplementation and cyclic treatment with rifaximin 400 mg twice daily for 7 days per month. Once symptom control is achieved, it should be maintained by continuing therapy for at least 12 months.