Manejo del absceso diverticular / Management of the diverticular abscess

Introducción: el absceso diverticular (AD) es la complicación más común de la diverticulitis. Actualmente no hay consenso en definir su mejor estrategia terapéutica. Objetivos: describir las características clínicas de los pacientes con AD y su evolución según tamaño, ubicación y manejo. Material y Método: estudio descriptivo de pacientes con AD hospitalizados en el Hospital Militar, durante el período 2009-2012. Resultados: se hospitalizaron 22 pacientes con diagnóstico de AD, con edad promedio de 65.2 años, el 63% eran mujeres, y las comorbilidades más frecuentes fueron hipertensión arterial, diabetes mellitus e hipotiroidismo. Todos consultaron por dolor abdominal y se encontraban hemodinámicamente estables al ingreso. 15 casos eran AD pericolónicos: 7 AD = 3 cm con buena respuesta a tratamiento médico; 4 AD de 3-5 cm, en este grupo se instaló drenaje percutáneo (DPC) en 3 pacientes de los cuales 2 requirieron cirugía; 4 AD > 5 cm, sólo en un caso se realizó DPC y ningún paciente requirió cirugía. Siete casos eran AD pélvicos o retroperitoneales: 4 AD de 3-5 cm con respuesta favorable a manejo médico; 3 AD > 5 cm, sólo un caso se manejó con DPC y ninguno requirió cirugía. Se realizó una sigmoidectomía electiva sólo en 5 casos, los 15 pacientes restantes han evolucionado satisfactoriamente durante 15.73 meses de seguimiento. No hay mortalidad en esta serie. Conclusión: es factible el manejo conservador de AD > 5 cm de diámetro. No hay mayor recurrencia de diverticulitis en pacientes con AD, independiente del tamaño, ubicación y manejo inicial.

Background: diverticular Abscess (DA) is the most common complication of diverticulitis. Currently, there is no consensus on defining the best therapeutic strategy against it. Objectives: to describe the clinical characteristics of DA patients and their evolution according to size, location and management. Materials and Methods: descriptive study of DA patients hospitalized in Militar Hospital in the period 2009-2012. Results: 22 patients diagnosed with DA were hospitalized (mean age was 65.2, 63% being women). The most frequent comorbidities were high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus and hipothyroidism. All the patients complained about abdominal pain and were hemodynamically stable when admitted. Fifteen cases were pericolonic DA: 7 DA = 3 cm responding well to medical treatment; 4 DS between 3-5 cm (in this group, percutaneous drainage (PCD) was applied to 3 patients, out of which 2 required surgery); 4 AD > 5 cm (in this group, PD was applied to only one patient and none required surgery). Elective sigmoidectomy was performed in only 5 cases; the other 15 patients have recovered satisfactorily during 15.73 months of follow-up. There is no mortality in this series. Conclusion: conservative management of DA > 5 cm in diameter is feasible. There is no considerable recurrence of diverticulitis in DA patients, despite the size, location and early management.

Clinical Analysis of 42 Cases Who Underwent Colectomy for Suspected Acute Appendicitis

PURPOSE: When patients underwent emergency surgery for suspected appendicitis, colon resection could be performed at the time of the initial operation. The aim of this study was to evaluate 42 cases underwent colectomy for suspected acute appendicitis. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 42 patients underwent colectomy for suspected acute appendicitis was performed over the period from January 1997 to December 2003 at the department of surgery, Kangnam Sacred Heart hospital, Hallym university. RESULTS: The sex ratio were 1.2:1. The mean age was 37.7 years. Right lower quadrant pain was present in all patients. Nausea and vomiting occurred in 18 cases (42.8%). Preoperative fever was 11 cases (26.1%). Abdominal ultrasound was most commonly performed preoperatively. The operative findings showed cecal mass with pericecal abscess was 20 cases (47.5%) and cecal mass with inflammation, 11 cases (26.1%), etc. The pathologic findings showed cecal diverticular abscess was 18 cases (42.8%) and pericecal abscess, 9 cases (21.4%), periappendiceal abscess, 5 cases (11.9%), etc. Type of operation was ileocecectomy, 29 cases (69.04%), and right hemicolectomy, 12 cases (28.57%), and extended right hemicolectomy, 1 case. Postoperative complications developed in 12 cases (28.57%), but those were uneventful. CONCLUSIONS: When an unexpected and suspicious cecal mass was found at operation for suspected appendicitis, the resection of all clinically apparent disease including colectomy could be considered. So, the surgeon must be aware of the possibility of these condition and choose the appropriate treatment.