Sigmoid Resection with Primary Anastomosis for Uncomplicated Giant Colonic Diverticulum: a Report of two Cases

Giant colonic diverticulum (GCD) is a rare complication of colonic diverticulosis. A small number of cases has been reported in the literature. Patients with GCD have often few non-specific symptoms. Unfortunately, severe complications exist and may lead to surgical acute abdomen. Therefore, this complication of the diverticular disease must be known and properly treated. There is no gold standard diagnostic test, but an air-fluid or air-filled, rounded, pseudo-cystic image in relation with the colonic wall in a patient with colonic diverticula should suggest this diagnosis to the clinician. We report two cases of a 70-year-old male patient and a 44-year-old female patient having a giant sigmoid diverticulum. The treatment of choice of an uncomplicated GCD is an elective colonic resection, including the giant diverticulum, with primary anastomosis; while in case of complicated GCD (peritonitis, abscess or complex fistula), a two-stage resection should be considered.     

Laparoscopic surgery for complicated diverticular disease: a single-centre experience

Aim The role of laparoscopic surgery in the management of patients with diverticular disease is still not universally accepted. The aim of our study was to evaluate the results of laparoscopic surgery for diverticular disease in a centre with a specialist interest in minimally invasive surgery. Method All diverticular resections carried out between 2006 and 2010 were reviewed. Data recorded included baseline demographics, indication for surgery, operative details, length of hospital stay and complications. Complicated diverticular disease was defined as diverticulitis with associated abscess, phlegmon, fistula, stricture, obstruction, bleeding or perforation. Results One hundred and two patients (58 men) who had surgery for diverticular disease were identified (median age 59 years, range 49–70 years). Sixty‐four patients (64%) had surgery for complicated diverticular disease. The indications were recurrent acute diverticulitis (37%), colovesical fistula (21%), stricture formation (17%) and colonic perforation (16%). Sixty‐nine cases (88%) were completed by elective laparoscopy. Postoperative mortality was 0%. For elective cases there was no difference in morbidity rates between patients with complicated and uncomplicated diverticular disease. The overall anastomotic leakage rate was 1% and the wound infection rate 7%. There was a nonsignificant trend to higher conversion to open surgery in the elective group in complicated (11.4%) compared with uncomplicated patients (5.2%) (P = 0.67). Electively, the rate of stoma formation was higher in the complicated (31.6%) than the uncomplicated group (5.2%) (P < 0.02). Conclusion Laparoscopic surgery for both complicated and uncomplicated diverticular disease is associated with low rates of postoperative morbidity and relatively low conversion rates. Laparoscopic surgery is now the standard of care for complicated and uncomplicated diverticular disease in our institution.     

Surgery for right-sided colonic diverticulitis: results of a 10-year-observation period

INTRODUCTION: In contrast to sigmoid diverticular disease, right colonic diverticulitis is a rare disease in Western countries. The clinical presentation is often similar to acute appendicitis. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze surgical challenge in right-sided diverticulitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients who underwent resection for both right-sided and sigmoid diverticular disease were registered prospectively in a database (observation period, 1996-2005). A retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent resection for right-sided colonic diverticulitis (ileocolic resection, right colectomy) was performed. Special focus was set on incidence, clinical symptoms, indication, procedure, clinical outcome, and histopathologic findings including immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: From a total of 593 patients treated surgically for recurring or acute complicated diverticular disease, the majority (97.8%) suffered from sigmoid diverticulitis (n = 580), whereas 2.2% (n = 16) underwent surgery for right-sided diverticulitis (including three patients with combined sigmoid and cecal diverticulitis). Related to the total number of appendectomies (n = 1167), this represented an incidence of 1.4%. In five of 16 patients, acute appendicitis was presumed preoperatively. Most common diagnostic was ultrasonography. In the group of patients with right-sided diverticulitis, the most common procedure was right hemicolectomy (n = 10), followed by ileocolic resection (n = 3) and combined right colonic resection with sigmoid resection (n = 3). Histopathological investigation confirmed complicated diverticulitis of the cecum with local perforation or abscess in 75% of the patients (12/16). Hypoganglionosis or aganglionosis was diagnosed in seven of the 16 resected specimens. DISCUSSION: As right-sided diverticulitis is a rare colonic disease in Western countries, the differentiation from acute appendicitis may be difficult. In general, there is no difference in the treatment of right-sided diverticulitis compared to left-sided diverticulitis. As most cases will remain clinically unimminent, surgery is only indicated in complicated right-sided cases. Resection of the inflamed colonic segment with primary anastomosis is safe and can be performed laparoscopically. It can only be speculated whether hypoganglionosis or aganglionosis is a causative factor in the etiology of right-sided diverticulitis.     

Conservative and interventional therapy of acute diverticulitis with reference to pathophysiology

Diverticular disease is most common in the sigmoid colon. Its etiology is multifactorial and probably related to low-fiber diets, age dependent changes of the colonic wall, hypermotility and myochosis with subsequent increase in intraluminal pressure. Acute diverticulitis results from inflammation of a pseudo-diverticulum. It can progress to pericolitis and perforation with abscess formation. Therapy of uncomplicated diverticulitis is a conservative regimen with bowel rest and intravenous broad spectrum antibiotics. In subjects with complicated diverticulitis, preoperative percutaneous image-guided catheter drainage of diverticular macroabscesses is indicated. This aims at resolving intra-abdominal sepsis thereby avoiding the need for temporary colostomy and multiple-stage surgery. Interval single stage sigmoid resection with primary anastomosis should then be performed. Generalized peritonitis, with or without evidence of free perforation, should be treated surgically. Long-term cereal fiber supplementation and physical activity may prevent complications and inflammatory recurrences in diverticular disease.     

Hepatic-portal venous gas in acute colonic diverticulitis

The diagnosis and assessment of severity of acute colonic diverticulitis may be difficult. A case is presented, in which the delayed diagnosis of diverticulitis resulted in the development of a diverticular mesocolic abscess complicated by hepatic-portal venous gas (HPVG). The utility of ultrasound as a rapid, noninvasive tool to diagnose this distinctly rare condition is outlined. The literature on HPVG associated with acute colonic diverticulitis is reviewed, and the therapeutic options are discussed. Received: 16 August 1996/Accepted: 19 February 1997     

The natural history diverticular disease: is there a role for elective colectomy?

BACKGROUND: The natural history of colonic diverticular disease is unclear leading to a debate on the value of elective colectomy in preventing complications of the disease. AIM: To assess whether the complications of diverticular disease requiring emergency surgery are related to previous episodes of diverticulitis and whether elective colectomy might prevent such complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was done on all patients admitted with complicated diverticular disease in two adjacent district general hospitals between 1995 and 2000. Information was collected on the details of management of the complications and past history of the investigations and treatment for diverticular disease in these patients. RESULTS: A total of 108 patients were admitted with complicated diverticular disease. Ninety eight (91%) patients were admitted as an emergency for perforated diverticular disease and rectal bleeding. Ten patients were urgent admissions for fistulae and diverticular phlegmons. Ninety eight patients underwent a Hartmann's operation, two had a subtotal colectomy and 4 patients had a sigmoid colectomy. Thirty four (31.4%) patients died in hospital post-operatively. Of the 108 patients, only 28 (26%) patients were known to have diverticular disease previously. Only three (2.7%) patients had had an episode of acute diverticulitis before they presented with further complications. CONCLUSIONS: Complications of diverticular disease occur de novo in the majority of patients who have no previous history of the disease. Further studies are needed to identify risk factors for complicated diverticular disease before adopting a policy of elective interval colectomy.     

Acute colonic diverticulitis

Colonic diverticulosis is truly a disease of the 20th century. A direct correlation is thought to exist between the incidence of diverticular disease and the amount of dietary fiber. Acute colonic diverticulitis occurs in approximately 25 per cent of the patients with diverticula, and 20 per cent of the patients with diverticulitis will ultimately require surgical intervention. Because of the often virulent nature of the disease in younger patients and the prevalence in the geriatric population, an aggressive approach is advocated. Primary resection of the involved segment of colon is advocated in all cases requiring operation. A primary anastomosis can be constructed in stage I and some cases of stage II disease. This results in lower morbidity and mortality rates as well as fewer days of hospitalization and disability. Newer techniques such as diagnostic CT scanning, percutaneous drainage of diverticular abscess, and greater application of surgical stapling devices have done much to improve the ultimate outcome of colonic diverticulitis.     

Complicated colonic diverticulosis. Results of surgical treatment between 1981 and 1998 in 370 patients

AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze case reports of all the patients with complicated diverticular disease of the colon admitted in the same surgical center during an 18-year period and to report the postoperative results in patients operated on in emergency and in patients operated on electively. PATIENTS AND METHOD: From 1981 to 1998, 501 patients were admitted for complicated diverticular disease. There were 233 men and 268 women. Mean age was 66 years (range: 27-96). One hundred and thirty-one patients were only treated medically and 370 patients were operated on, either as an emergency (n = 211) or electively (n = 159). The complicated diverticular disease was located on the left colon in 362 cases and in the right colon in 8 cases. RESULTS: In the emergency group, 103 patients were operated on for pelvic (n = 24) and generalized purulent (n = 67) or stercoral (n = 12) peritonitis, mainly with Hartmann procedure (n = 80) with 14 postoperative deaths; 67 were operated on for pericolic abscess with 6 deaths, 19 for colonic obstruction with two deaths and 22 for profuse hemorrhage with 4 deaths. The overall postoperative mortality rate was 12.3%, and morbidity rate 38.7%. Intestinal continuity was restored in 74% and eventrations were present in 10%. In the elective group, there were two postoperative deaths in patients with a colic fistula (n = 30), no mortality and a 10.8% morbidity rate in the other patients (n = 129). CONCLUSION: This series of an 18-year duration emphasizes the severity of surgery for acute complications in diverticular disease of the colon and the advantages of elective surgery. Large progress in the management of peritonitis and pericolic abscesses has made possible the improvement of their prognosis.     

Resection of the perforated segment : A significant advance in treatment of diverticulitis with free perforation or abscess

As a result of improved medical management of chronic diverticular disease, perforation has become the most common indication for surgical intervention. During the past five years sixty-three patients underwent operation for colonic diverticular disease, of which forty-six were for perforation (generalized peritonitis in 8, abscess in 30, and fistula in 8). The eight patients with generalized peritonitis underwent emergency exploration for spreading peritoneal signs and were managed by resection of the perforated segment, end colostomy, and mucous fistula or Hartmann's pouch. Treatment of thirty-eight patients with abscess or fistula has also stressed primary resection of the perforated segment of colon. Resection and end colostomy without anastomosis was performed in three. Primary anastomosis with proximal diverting colostomy was performed in four. Primary anastomosis alone was done in thirty-one patients. There were no deaths. These results support primary resection of the involved colon with immediate or delayed anastomosis in the operative management of perforated diverticular disease.     

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and perforated diverticular disease: a case-control study

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have a wide range of side-effects in the gastrointestinal tract and the large intestine. This study examines the hypothesis that the use of NSAIDs is associated with colonic perforation in diverticular disease. Histological evidence was used to confirm perforation. A retrospective review of case records and pathology reports identified 20 patients admitted over 3 consecutive years. A total of 125 age- and sex-matched patients diagnosed with diverticular disease not complicated by perforation formed the control group. The incidences of NSAID use in the two groups were compared. A second control group consisted of 600 age- and sex-matched randomly selected patients with no known diverticular disease admitted as emergencies in the same period. Of the 20 patients with perforation, 9 were taking NSAIDs for 4 weeks or longer, compared with 19 (15%) of the 125 patients who did not have perforation (relative risk 2.961, 95% confidence interval 1.507-5.348, P < 0.01). 19% of all patients with diverticular disease were taking NSAIDs compared with 10% of the second control group (relative risk 1.869, 95% confidence interval 1.237-2.781, P < 0.01). The findings indicate a strong association between the use of NSAIDs and the perforation of colonic diverticula. The majority of the indications for the use of NSAIDs were cardiovascular and musculoskeletal conditions. Prescribing NSAIDs to patients with diverticular disease carries an increased risk of colonic perforation.     

Prospective study of primary anastomosis following sigmoid resection for suspected acute complicated diverticular disease

BACKGROUND: A primary anastomosis after resection of the sigmoid colon for suspected acute complicated diverticular disease has the advantage of saving the patient a secondary operation for restoring bowel continuity. Fear of anastomotic leakage often deters surgeons from making a primary anastomosis. METHODS: A series of 45 patients who underwent primary anastomosis was studied prospectively to evaluate the feasibility of a primary anastomosis following acute sigmoid resection. Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, Mannheim Peritonitis Index (MPI) and Hughes' peritonitis classification were used to classify patients and to detect factors predictive of postoperative outcome. Death, anastomotic leakage and septic complications were main outcome measures. RESULTS: Neither anastomotic leakage (four of 45 patients) nor death (three of 45) was related to a higher MPI, APACHE II or Hughes' score. More postoperative septic complications were seen in patients with a MPI over 16. Death, anastomotic leakage, reintervention and wound infection were observed more frequently in patients who presented with colonic obstruction than in those with abscess or perforation. CONCLUSION: Primary anastomosis is safe and effective in non-obstructed cases of complicated diverticular disease. Colonic obstruction seems to be a risk factor for the development of postoperative complications.     

Prospective study on the management of patients with complicated diverticular disease

INTRODUCTION: Diverticular disease is a common condition with high morbidity and mortality related to its complications. The aim of this study was to assess the predictive role of acute diverticulitis in the development of further complications from diverticular disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospective assessment of all patients with complicated diverticular disease over a 1-year period in a large teaching hospital was undertaken. All patients had documented evidence of their diagnosis by radiological, endoscopic or histopathological techniques when feasible. RESULTS: Seventy-seven patients with complicated diverticular disease were identified. There were 53 females and 24 males with a median age of 74 years (range 30-97 years). Complications included: acute diverticulitis (37), fistula (12), perforation (8), bleeding (7), abscess (7) and stricture (6). Only 8 had two or more previous documented episodes of diverticulitis. Twenty-five underwent surgery, 3 died (peritonitis 2, abscess1) and 5 had a complication (anastomotic dehiscence 1, adhesive obstruction 1, incisional hernia 2 and pneumonia 1). Three (5%) of 37 patients with acute diverticulitis had two or more admissions but none underwent surgery or developed further complications. CT was performed during acute admission in 14/37 patients with acute diverticulitis. The majority of patients with fistula (9/12), perforation 7/8, bleeding 6/7 and abscess 5/7 had no previous episode of diverticulitis while most patients with stricture (4/6) had previous documented episodes. CONCLUSION: In our patient population acute diverticulitis is not a good predictor of the development of further complications from diverticular disease as only a minority of patients with perforation, fistula, abscess and bleeding had previous documented episodes of diverticulitis.     

Diverticular disease

Although most often clinically silent, colonic diverticula are responsible for a large number of gastrointestinal illnesses in our society. Complications of diverticular disease, including perforation and hemorrhage, may occur in 15% to 20% of patients with diverticula during their lifetime, and although often mild and self-limiting diseases, they too frequently cause life-threatening problems that require prompt surgical intervention. Despite a cadre of sophisticated laboratory and radiologic tests that have been developed to aid in the diagnosis of complicated diverticular disease, the diagnosis and treatment of diverticulitis still relies heavily on patient history, physical examination, physician judgment, and the patient's clinical response to treatment. Thus it is important for the managing physician to fully understand the pathogenesis of diverticula, the clinical consequences and modes of presentation of complicated diverticular disease, and the array of interventions available for treatment of these problems. This monograph summarizes our knowledge of diverticular disease to date and tries to give specific guidelines for the treatment of patients with complicated diverticulitis. However, it must be understood that the presentation and severity of these complications vary widely from patient to patient. Thus one cannot take a single approach toward a patient who has diverticulitis or diverticular bleeding. Rather, successful outcomes depend on an individual approach to each patient while maintaining certain generally accepted principles of treatment.     

Colonic perforation induced by short term use of slow release diclofenac

Upper gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is well characterized. There is also documented data regarding their adverse effects on lower GI tract, like colonic strictures, inflammatory bowel disease and complications of diverticular disease in the form of abscess or perforation. But there are only two case reports published previously that show colonic perforation due to use of NSAIDs solely. We present here a case of colonic perforation induced by short-term use of slow release diclofenac in a young man. Colonic perforation should be considered as the possible diagnosis in patients with acute abdomen and NSAIDs to be one of the differentials if other possibilities are ruled out.     

Is laparoscopic surgery applicable to complicated colonic diverticular disease?

Background: Expanding upon our experience with laparoscopic surgery for colonic benign and malignant processes and for bowel obstruction, we have reviewed our experience with minimal access laparoscopic surgery for complicated diverticular disease. We propose an approach of surgical care incorporating diagnostic laparoscopy in those not responding to medical therapy alone. Methods: Our study includes data from two different surgical teams working in separate hospital-and-patient environments. Our theory that laparoscopy could be widely applicable to this complex disease process is borne out by experience in both locations. One hundred forty-eight patients were managed by laparoscopic or laparoscopically assisted methods with 18 patients requiring drainage only without resection. Results: Our management of 148 of 164 patients (90%) by laparoscopic approach was successful, with a very acceptable morbidity of 5% in the elective cases and decreased ileus (20% of open vs 7% laparoscopic) in acute complicated cases. Elective resections required hospitalization of 4–5 days, demonstrating the benefits of incorporating laparoscopy in the care of these cases, particularly when compared to standard open procedures requiring 8 days' hospitalization. Conclusions: We believe complications of diverticular disease including abscess, perforation, fistula, and bleeding can potentially be managed in this way by minimal access procedures, decreasing postoperative wound problems, decreasing length of hospitalization and overall morbidity, and improving patient care.     

Colonic diverticulosis--current issues in etiopathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment

Diverticular disease of the colon, which is an acquired disorder caused by mucosal herniation through the colonic wall, has been termed both a "disease of the 20th century" and a "disease of Western civilization" due to its increasing prevalence in modern times and its striking geographical variability. There are complex relations between colonic structure, motility, and dietary factors, and it is likely that all of these play a role in the pathogenesis to a greater or lesser degree. Although present in two thirds of the elderly population, the large majority of patients will remain entirely asymptomatic. Nonetheless, 20% of those affected may manifest clinical illness and complications. Barium exploration indicates the extent and severity of colonic diverticular disease. Colonoscopy is preferred in positive diagnosis of uncomplicated diverticulosis. Computed tomography is especially useful in complicated diverticular disease. The use of high fibre diets in the prevention and treatment of the symptoms of diverticular disease has now become commonplace. The morbidity and mortality associated with complications, demand that this condition should receive greater attention in terms of aetiology, prevention and management.     

Hartmann's procedure. A retrospective study of 86 cases]

The purpose of this retrospective study is to define current indications and results of Hartmann's procedure (H). From 1978 to 1989, 86 H were performed, 52 (60%) as emergency surgery. Indications were: colo-rectal cancer (37): 15 complicated and 22 as an elective procedure, diverticular disease acute or complicated (24), ischemic colitis (10), volvulus of the pelvic colon (5), inflammatory bowel disease (4), colonic perforation (3), traumatic hematoma of the sigmoid mesocolon (1). Fourteen patients died after operation (mean age: 79). There was no death after elective H for cancer. Post-operative complications were numerous: pulmonary (25%), abdominal would sepsis or disruption (21%), rectal strump leakage (14%), the later being harmless due to the associated Mickulicz drainage. Seven patients were reoperated on for necrosis of the colonic stoma. Mean initial hospital stay was 31 days. Restoration of the gastrointestinal continuity was done in 27 cases (37% of the surviving patients, 76% of the diverticular diseases). The authors conclude that for complicated diverticular disease H procedure improves survival without preferable continuity. For cancer, H procedure is permanently compromising gastrointestinal in the elderly to hazardous low anastomosis, and to palliative abdomino-perineal resection.     

Laparoscopic colostomy for acute left colon obstruction caused by diverticular disease in high risk patient: A case report

IntroductionThe colostomy is often necessary in complicated divertcular disease. The laparoscopic colostomy is not widely used for the treatment of complicated diverticular disease. Its use in patients with high operative risk is still on debate. The aim of this case report was to present the benefits of laparoscopic colostomy in patients with high peri-and postoperative risk factors.Presentation of caseWe present a case of 76-year-old female admitted to emergency unit for left colonic obstruction. The patient had a past history of liver cirrhosis HCV-related with a severe malnutrition, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, diverticular disease, hiatal ernia, previous appendectomy. Patient was classified according to their preoperative risk ASA 3 (classification of the American society of Anestesia-ASA score).Contrast-enhanced abdominal CT revealed a marked thickening in the sigmoid colon and a marked circumferential stenosis in the sigmoid colon in absence of neoplasm, and/or abscess. The laparoscopic procedure is proposed as first intention.DiscussionThe operation time was 50 min, and the hospital stay was 4 days. Post operative complications grade I according to the Clavien Dindo Classification.ConclusionsLaparoscopic colostomy is safe and feasible procedure in experienced hands. It is associated with low morbidity and short stay in hospital and should be considered a good alternative to a laparotomy.     

Complications of acute diverticulitis of the colon: improved early diagnosis with computerized tomography

We have evaluated the diagnostic role of computerized tomography in 42 patients suspected clinically of having a complication of acute diverticulitis (abscess, colovesical fistula, or both). Diverticular abscesses were confirmed at operation in 10 patients. All 10 patients were diagnosed preoperatively on computerized tomography by the triad of diverticula, a segmentally thickened colon, and extravisceral fluid collection with (6 patients) or without (4 patients) associated gas. Contrast enema study suggested the presence of a diverticular abscess in only two of eight patients studied. Colovesical fistulas were confirmed in 12 patients. Eleven of 12 were diagnosed preoperatively on computerized tomography by the triad of air in the bladder, thickened colon adjacent to an area of thickened bladder, and the presence of colonic diverticula. Contrast enema examinations demonstrated the fistula in only three of eight patients studied. The remaining 20 patients proved to have uncomplicated acute diverticulitis. Findings on computerized tomography included the presence of a segmentally thickened colon with diverticula but without the findings of an abscess or a colovesical fistula. Computerized tomography correctly visualized acute diverticular complications in 21 of 22 patients and it excluded an abscess or fistula in all 20 patients with uncomplicated acute diverticulitis who were suspected of having a diverticular complication. Computerized tomography is the most sensitive and specific test for diagnosing complications of acute diverticulitis. It should be an early consideration in patients with suspected diverticular abscesses or fistulas so that appropriate therapy is not delayed.     

Diverticular disease

Diverticular disease is a common problem affecting the colon in developed countries. It causes significant cost to healthcare systems and leads to significant morbidity and mortality associated with its complications which include abscess formation, perforation, bleeding and colonic obstruction. The management of acute diverticular sepsis has evolved to include both radiological and surgical options of drainage as well as resectional surgery for more widespread sepsis. The developing use of laparoscopic surgery has further use within the management of the emergency patient as well as the elective setting including in diverticular surgery. The role of surgery in the elective setting is controversial and varied. We examine the evidence behind the management of this common and complex pathology.