Doença diverticular dos cólons e diverticulite aguda: o que o clínico deve saber / Diverticular disease of the colon and acute diverticulitis: what the clinician should know

A doença diverticular constitui uma das afecções benignas mais frequentes e ocasiona elevada morbidade para o paciente. Várias complicações são advindas dessa doença, e em determinadas situações elas apresentam significativa gravidade. Contudo, essa afecção é, na maioria das vezes, assintomática e poucos indivíduos estão cientes desua existência. Na vigência de inflamação dos divertículos, os pacientes procuram atendimentos de urgência com sintomatologia de diverticulite aguda. Cabe ao clínico proceder com avaliação clínica detalhada, propedêutica eficiente e instituição de terapêutica adequada. Ainda, torna-se essencial discernir sobre a necessidade da abordagem cirúrgica. Esse artigo objetiva contribuir para a atualização do conhecimento sobre o diagnóstico e o tratamento da doença diverticular e diverticulite aguda...

Diverticular disease is one of the most frequent benign diseases, with high patient morbidity. Several complications can arise from it and in certain cases they can be very severe. However, this condition is most often asymptomatic and few individuals are aware of its existence. In the presence of diverticular inflammation patients seek emergency services with symptoms of acute diverticulitis. It is up to the clinician to proceed with a detailed clinical assessment, efficient workup and start adequatetherapy. Additionally, it is essential to discern the need for a surgical approach. This article aims to contribute with an update on the diagnosis and treatment of acute diverticulitis and diverticular disease...

Clinical Significance of Colonic Diverticulosis Associated with Bowel Symptoms and Colon Polyp

This study was done to evaluate prospectively the clinical significance of colonic diverticulosis. In the 1,030 consecutive outpatients undergoing colonoscopy, the information on the demographics, the patterns of bowel symptoms, and the prevalence of colon polyp were analyzed according to the presence of colonic diverticulosis. The mean age of 1,030 patients were 52.2 yr and 59.3% were male. The prevalence of diverticulosis was 19.7% (203/1,030). Of 203 diverticulosis patients 85.2% were in proximal group, 5.4% in distal group and 9.4% in both group. Six (3.0%) patients were found to have diverticulitis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that an old age, diabetes and the presence of polyp were significant factors associated with proximal or both diverticulosis. A significant difference was demonstrated between the patients of distal diverticular group and the controls for the symptom frequency scores within the previous 4 weeks. The items, which showed difference, were hard stool, urgency, flatus, chest discomfort and frequent urination. In conclusion, old age, diabetes and the presence of colon polyp were associated with proximal diverticulosis. The temporal symptoms were more frequent in distal diverticulosis than in proximal diverticulosis in the study subjects.

Diverticulitis: Focused on Clinical Course and Relapse

BACKGROUND/AIMS: There are a limited number of studies concerning the outcomes of diverticulitis in the Oriental population. We sought to evaluate the clinical features and the long-term outcomes of diverticulitis in Korean patients. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical courses of 104 patients (59 men, 45 women; median age 48.5 years [range: 24-83 years]) hospitalized for their first episode of diverticulitis between 1989 and 2005. RESULTS: Right-sided diverticulitis was more common (71/104, 68%). However, the proportion of left-sided diverticulitis increased as age increased. Thirty-two patients underwent operations: 30 because of complications and 2 because of presumed appendicitis. Left-sided diverticulitis was an independent risk factor for complications (OR=7.6, p<0.001), and it required surgical treatment more often than right-sided diverticulitis did (61% vs. 17%, p<0.001). Eighty-five patients were followed for a median of 36 months. Four of the 62 medically treated patients developed recurrence of diverticulitis, with a 3-year cumulative recurrence rate of 4.8%. None of the 4 recurrences showed complications, and all were successfully managed using conservative treatment. No predictive factors for the recurrence of diverticulitis could be determined. CONCLUSIONS: The recurrence rate and risk of complications associated with recurrence are low in patients treated conservatively for the first episode of diverticulitis. Therefore, elective surgery to prevent recurrence and complications should be utilized sparingly in patients with diverticulitis.