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Perforated diverticulitis: is the right and left difference present here too?

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International Journal of Colorectal Disease Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

It is unclear if location of disease matters in perforated diverticulitis. Management guidelines for perforated diverticulitis currently do not make a distinction between right perforated diverticulitis (RPD) and left perforated diverticulitis (LPD). We aim to compare disease presentation and management outcomes between RPD and LPD.

Methods

This was a 10-year retrospective comparative cohort study of 99 patients with acute perforated diverticulitis between 2004 and 2013 in a single institution. Patients were divided into RPD and LPD groups based on location of disease and compared. Disease presentation was compared using modified Hinchey classification. Management outcomes assessed were failure of therapy, length of stay, mortality, surgical complications, and disease recurrence. Univariate analysis was performed using Student’s t test and χ2 test where appropriate.

Results

RPD patients were younger (45.7 ± 16.1 versus 58.3 ± 14.7 years) and presented with lower modified Hinchey stage and no Hinchey IV diverticulitis when compared to LPD (14.3% Hinchey III versus 44.0% Hinchey III or IV). Conservative management of Hinchey I and II RPD and LPD was similarly successful (96.1 versus 96.5%), although RPD patients had shorter inpatient stay (4.6 ± 2.2 versus 6.3 ± 3.8 days) and less disease recurrence (3.1 versus 17.9%). Ten (20.4%) Hinchey I and II RPD patients were initially misdiagnosed with appendicitis and underwent surgery.

Conclusion

LPD is a more aggressive disease presenting with greater clinical severity in older patients and is associated with frequent disease recurrence when treated conservatively. Misdiagnosis of RPD as appendicitis is common and may lead to unnecessary surgery.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National University of Singapore Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Singapore, Singapore

    Nicholas Yock Teck Soh, Tan Carrie Jen Hsi & Shivani Rajaraman

  2. Department of General Surgery, Changi General Hospital, 2 Simei Street 3, Singapore, 529889, Republic of Singapore

    Nan Zun Teo, Marianne Tsang, Ong Calvin Jian Ming & Wijaya Ramesh

Authors
  1. Nicholas Yock Teck Soh
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  2. Nan Zun Teo
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Correspondence to Wijaya Ramesh.

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Soh, N.Y.T., Teo, N.Z., Tan, C.J.H. et al. Perforated diverticulitis: is the right and left difference present here too?. Int J Colorectal Dis 33, 525–529 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-018-3007-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-018-3007-9

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