Right colonic diverticulitis: an uncommon disease in western countries.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS:

Right colonic diverticulitis is not a frequent disease and its management is still controversial. In this study we describe our experience.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

We retrospectively reviewed all patients operated on because of a right colonic diverticulitis in our surgical unit. All patients were treated laparoscopically. Demographics, diagnostic and surgical results were recorded.

RESULTS:

Between January 1994 and January 2007, 11 patients (7 males and 4 females) mean age 53 +/- 9 years (range 39-68), ASA 1: 6 patients, ASA 2: 4 patients, ASA 3: one patient, and BMI 27.8 (range 25-31), had right colonic diverticulitis. Four patients underwent emergency operations: one for peritonitis and three with an erroneous diagnosis of acute appendicitis; seven were operated on electively. There were no deaths or complications. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 5.6 days (range, 3-9). After a mean follow-up of 6.3 years (range 1-13) all patients of this series are symptom-free.

INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSION:

Right colon diverticulitis diagnosis remains difficult. A pre-operative imaging screening is necessary to successfully face this challenging disease. Laparoscopy is a safe and effective method to treat these patients. Colectomy should be considered a good therapeutic option for right colonic diverticulitis, although a conservative approach could be proposed in selected cases.

• Authors: A Carloni, E Sage, J Roudié, R Balzarotti, S Maitre, M Sbai-Idrissi, C Smadja
• Journal: Acta chirurgica Belgica (Acta Chir Belg) 2010 Jan-Feb Vol. 110 Issue 1 Pg. 57-9 ISSN: 0001-5458 [Print] England
• PMID: 20306911 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Colectomy (methods)
• Colonoscopy
• Diverticulitis, Colonic (diagnosis, epidemiology, surgery)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• France (epidemiology)
• Humans
• Laparotomy
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Morbidity (trends)
• Retrospective Studies
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• Treatment Outcome