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Kodadek LM, Davis KA. Current diagnosis and management of acute colonic diverticulitis: What you need to know. J Trauma Acute Care Surg 2024; 97:1-10. [PMID: 38509056 DOI: 10.1097/ta.0000000000004304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Acute colonic diverticulitis is a common disease treated by acute care surgeons. Acute uncomplicated colonic diverticulitis involves thickening of the colon wall with inflammatory changes and less commonly requires the expertise of a surgeon; many cases may be treated as an outpatient with or without antibiotics. Complicated diverticulitis involves phlegmon, abscess, peritonitis, obstruction, stricture, and/or fistula and usually requires inpatient hospital admission, treatment with antibiotics, and consideration for intervention including operative management. This review will discuss what the acute care surgeon needs to know about diagnosis and management of acute colonic diverticulitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Kodadek
- From the Division of General Surgery, Trauma and Surgical Critical Care, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
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Long B, Werner J, Gottlieb M. Emergency medicine updates: Acute diverticulitis. Am J Emerg Med 2024; 76:1-6. [PMID: 37956503 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2023.10.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Acute diverticulitis is a condition commonly seen in the emergency department (ED). Therefore, it is important for emergency medicine clinicians to be aware of the current evidence regarding the diagnosis and management of this disease. OBJECTIVE This paper evaluates key evidence-based updates concerning acute diverticulitis for the emergency clinician. DISCUSSION Diverticulitis is a complication of diverticulosis and most commonly affects the sigmoid and descending colon in Western countries. History and examination can suggest the diagnosis, with abdominal pain and tenderness in the left lower quadrant being the most common symptom and sign, respectively. Change in bowel habits and fever may also occur. Laboratory testing may demonstrate leukocytosis or an elevated C-reactive protein. Imaging options can include computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen and pelvis with intravenous contrast, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or ultrasound (US), though most classification systems for diverticulitis incorporate CT findings. While the majority of diverticulitis cases are uncomplicated, complications may affect up to 25% of patients. Treatment of complicated diverticulitis requires antibiotics and surgical consultation. Antibiotics are not required in select patients with uncomplicated diverticulitis. Appropriate patients for supportive care without antibiotics should be well-appearing, have pain adequately controlled, be able to tolerate oral intake, be able to follow up, have no complications, and have no immunocompromise or severe comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS An understanding of literature updates can improve the ED care of patients with acute diverticulitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brit Long
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Jessie Werner
- Department of Emergency Medicine, UCSF Fresno, Fresno, CA, USA
| | - Michael Gottlieb
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
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Tiralongo F, Di Pietro S, Milazzo D, Galioto S, Castiglione DG, Ini’ C, Foti PV, Mosconi C, Giurazza F, Venturini M, Zanghi’ GN, Palmucci S, Basile A. Acute Colonic Diverticulitis: CT Findings, Classifications, and a Proposal of a Structured Reporting Template. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:3628. [PMID: 38132212 PMCID: PMC10742435 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13243628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute colonic diverticulitis (ACD) is the most common complication of diverticular disease and represents an abdominal emergency. It includes a variety of conditions, extending from localized diverticular inflammation to fecal peritonitis, hence the importance of an accurate diagnosis. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT) plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis due to its high sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and interobserver agreement. In fact, CE-CT allows alternative diagnoses to be excluded, the inflamed diverticulum to be localized, and complications to be identified. Imaging findings have been reviewed, dividing them into bowel and extra-intestinal wall findings. Moreover, CE-CT allows staging of the disease; the most used classifications of ACD severity are Hinchey's modified and WSES classifications. Differential diagnoses include colon carcinoma, epiploic appendagitis, ischemic colitis, appendicitis, infectious enterocolitis, and inflammatory bowel disease. We propose a structured reporting template to standardize the terminology and improve communication between specialists involved in patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Tiralongo
- Radiology Unit 1, University Hospital Policlinico “G. Rodolico-San Marco”, 95123 Catania, Italy; (D.G.C.); (C.I.)
| | - Stefano Di Pietro
- Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University Hospital Policlinico “G. Rodolico-San Marco”, 95123 Catania, Italy; (S.D.P.); (D.M.); (S.G.); (P.V.F.); (S.P.); (A.B.)
| | - Dario Milazzo
- Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University Hospital Policlinico “G. Rodolico-San Marco”, 95123 Catania, Italy; (S.D.P.); (D.M.); (S.G.); (P.V.F.); (S.P.); (A.B.)
| | - Sebastiano Galioto
- Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University Hospital Policlinico “G. Rodolico-San Marco”, 95123 Catania, Italy; (S.D.P.); (D.M.); (S.G.); (P.V.F.); (S.P.); (A.B.)
| | - Davide Giuseppe Castiglione
- Radiology Unit 1, University Hospital Policlinico “G. Rodolico-San Marco”, 95123 Catania, Italy; (D.G.C.); (C.I.)
| | - Corrado Ini’
- Radiology Unit 1, University Hospital Policlinico “G. Rodolico-San Marco”, 95123 Catania, Italy; (D.G.C.); (C.I.)
| | - Pietro Valerio Foti
- Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University Hospital Policlinico “G. Rodolico-San Marco”, 95123 Catania, Italy; (S.D.P.); (D.M.); (S.G.); (P.V.F.); (S.P.); (A.B.)
| | - Cristina Mosconi
- Department of Radiology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Sant’Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, 40138 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Francesco Giurazza
- Interventional Radiology Department, Cardarelli Hospital of Naples, 80131 Naples, Italy;
| | - Massimo Venturini
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Circolo Hospital, Insubria University, 21100 Varese, Italy;
| | | | - Stefano Palmucci
- Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University Hospital Policlinico “G. Rodolico-San Marco”, 95123 Catania, Italy; (S.D.P.); (D.M.); (S.G.); (P.V.F.); (S.P.); (A.B.)
| | - Antonio Basile
- Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University Hospital Policlinico “G. Rodolico-San Marco”, 95123 Catania, Italy; (S.D.P.); (D.M.); (S.G.); (P.V.F.); (S.P.); (A.B.)
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