Acute Diverticulitis with and without Microperforation: Should they be Treated the Same?

Ron Dibble, Bassam Al-Mamoori and Juan L Poggio

Department of Colorectal Surgery, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, 19129, USA
Department of Radiology Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, USA
Department of Surgery, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, USA

^*Correspondance to: Ron Dibble 

 PDF  Full Text DOI: 10.25107/2474-1647.1443

Abstract

Background: The use of Computed Tomography imaging has enabled clinicians to visualize a subset of uncomplicated diverticulitis known as microperforation. Microperforation of a diverticulum is visualized as the development of focal contained collections appearing as small extraluminal pockets of air or extravasation of contrast material. The goal of our study is to determine if acute diverticulitis with microperforation should be clinically treated the same as uncomplicated acute diverticulitis or if they differ with respect to morbidity.Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 141 patients with a primary diagnosis of acute uncomplicated diverticulitis with or without microperforation via computed tomography imaging. The data was obtained from Hahnemann University Hospital Medical Records dating from 2008- 2015. Readmission within 30 days for failure to respond to medical therapy was the primary outcome variable.Results: The sample included 141 patients diagnosed with acute diverticulitis, 32 of which had a diagnosis of microperforation. The overall 30-day readmission rate was 6.38%. No patient in this study required surgery within 30 days. Univariate analysis of readmission rates between patients diagnosed with acute diverticulitis with microperforation and without microperforation revealed an odds ratio of 0.97, 95% CI (0.19-4.93, p=0.97).Conclusion: Acute diverticulitis with microperforation is not associated with an increased rate of readmission or need for surgery when compared to patients diagnosed with uncomplicated acute diverticulitis without microperforation.

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Cite the article

Dibble R, Al-Mamoori B, Poggio JL. Acute Diverticulitis with and without Microperforation: Should they be Treated the Same? Clin Surg. 2017; 2: 1443.