¿Cómo diagnosticamos la diverticulitis aguda? Resultados de una encuesta nacional sobre el papel de las técnicas de imagen / How do we diagnose acute diverticulitis? Results of a national survey about the role of imaging techniques

Introducción: La elección de las técnicas de imagen en el diagnóstico de la diverticulitis aguda (DA) es un motivo de controversia. Los objetivos del estudio fueron conocer las preferencias de los radiólogos y el grado de utilización de las distintas técnicas en su manejo radiológico. Métodos: Se difundió una encuesta por Internet a través de la Sociedad Española de Diagnóstico por Imagen del Abdomen (SEDIA) y Twitter, con preguntas sobre ámbito de trabajo, protocolización, preferencias personales y la realidad asistencial en el manejo radiológico de la DA. Resultados: Se obtuvieron 186 respuestas. El 72% de los radiólogos encuestados trabaja en servicios organizados por «órgano y sistema» (S-OS). Existe protocolo de manejo de DA en un el 48% de los servicios, siendo en el 47,5% la ecografía la técnica de inicio. El 73% de los encuestados cree que la ecografía debería ser la primera opción diagnóstica, pero en realidad esto solo se efectúa en un 24% de los servicios, realizándose tomografía computarizada en el 32,8%, con diferencias significativas en horario de guardia. La clasificación más utilizada es la de Hinchey (75%). El 96% de los encuestados desearía un consenso de especialidad para utilizar la misma clasificación. Existe mayor tasa de protocolización, utilización de clasificaciones y mayor creencia en la ecografía como técnica inicial en S-OS y en hospitales con más de 500 camas. Conclusiones: Hay una gran variabilidad en el manejo radiológico de la DA, con divergencias en los protocolos utilizados y entre las opiniones de los radiólogos y la práctica clínica real.(AU)

Introduction: The choice of imaging techniques in the diagnosis of acute diverticulitis is controversial. This study aimed to determine radiologists’ preferences for different imaging techniques in the management of acute diverticulitis and the extent to which they use the different radiologic techniques for this purpose. Methods: An online survey was disseminated through the Spanish Society of Abdominal Imaging (Sociedad Española de Diagnóstico por Imagen del Abdomen (SEDIA)) and Twitter. The survey included questions about respondents’ working environments, protocolization, personal preferences, and actual practice in the radiological management of acute diverticulitis. Results: A total of 186 responses were obtained, 72% from radiologists working in departments organized by organ/systems. Protocols for managing acute diverticulitis were in force in 48% of departments. Ultrasonography was the initial imaging technique in 47.5%, and 73% of the respondents considered that ultrasonography should be the first-choice technique; however, in practice, ultrasonography was the initial imaging technique in only 24% of departments. Computed tomography was the first imaging technique in 32.8% of departments, and its use was significantly more common outside normal working hours. The most frequently employed classification was the Hinchey classification (75%). Nearly all (96%) respondents expressed a desire for a consensus within the specialty about using the same classification. Hospitals with>500 beds and those organized by organ/systems had higher rates of protocolization, use of classifications, and belief that ultrasonography is the best first-line imaging technique. Conclusions: The radiologic management of acute diverticulitis varies widely, with differences in the protocols used, radiologists’ opinions, and actual clinical practice.(AU)

How do we diagnose acute diverticulitis? Results of a national survey about the role of imaging techniques.

INTRODUCTION: The choice of imaging techniques in the diagnosis of acute diverticulitis is controversial. This study aimed to determine radiologists' preferences for different imaging techniques in the management of acute diverticulitis and the extent to which they use the different radiologic techniques for this purpose. METHODS: An online survey was disseminated through the Spanish Society of Abdominal Imaging (Sociedad Española de Diagnóstico por Imagen del Abdomen (SEDIA)) and Twitter. The survey included questions about respondents' working environments, protocolization, personal preferences, and actual practice in the radiological management of acute diverticulitis. RESULTS: A total of 186 responses were obtained, 72% from radiologists working in departments organized by organ/systems. Protocols for managing acute diverticulitis were in force in 48% of departments. Ultrasonography was the initial imaging technique in 47.5%, and 73% of the respondents considered that ultrasonography should be the first-choice technique; however, in practice, ultrasonography was the initial imaging technique in only 24% of departments. Computed tomography was the first imaging technique in 32.8% of departments, and its use was significantly more common outside normal working hours. The most frequently employed classification was the Hinchey classification (75%). Nearly all (96%) respondents expressed a desire for a consensus within the specialty about using the same classification. Hospitals with >500 beds and those organized by organ/systems had higher rates of protocolization, use of classifications, and belief that ultrasonography is the best first-line imaging technique. CONCLUSIONS: The radiologic management of acute diverticulitis varies widely, with differences in the protocols used, radiologists' opinions, and actual clinical practice.

Categorización de la diverticulitis aguda de colon izquierdo mediante ecografía y tomografía computarizada. Valor de las clasificaciones de gravedad disponibles / Classification of acute diverticulitis in the left colon with ultrasonography and computed tomography: value of current severity classification schemes

Antecedentes y objetivoEl manejo actual de la diverticulitis aguda de colon izquierdo requiere pruebas con alto valor pronóstico. Los objetivos del estudio son analizar la utilidad de la ecografía como método diagnóstico inicial y evaluar la validez de las clasificaciones actuales de gravedad de dicha enfermedad.PacientesEstudio observacional retrospectivo de pacientes con diverticulitis aguda de colon izquierdo. Se solicitó ecografía o tomografía computarizada (TC) siguiendo un algoritmo clínico. Tras los hallazgos de imagen, se clasificó la enfermedad como leve, localmente complicada y complicada. Se evaluaron la eficacia de la ecografía como herramienta diagnóstica inicial y las razones por las que se realizó una TC como técnica inicial. Se compararon los hallazgos con las clasificaciones de diverticulitis publicadas.ResultadosDe 311 pacientes con diverticulitis aguda, se seleccionaron 183 con diverticulitis aguda de colon izquierdo, que fueron clasificadas por imagen como leves (104), localmente complicadas (60) y complicadas (19). En 98 pacientes, el diagnóstico se realizó por ecografía, en 77 por TC y en 8 mediante ambas. Las principales razones de utilización inicial de TC fueron falta de experiencia del radiólogo en ecografía abdominal y falta de disponibilidad de un radiólogo de guardia. A 6 pacientes diagnosticados por ecografía se les realizó una nueva evaluación por TC, pero solo en 3 cambió la clasificación. Ninguna de las clasificaciones publicadas recoge todos los hallazgos en imagen.ConclusionesLa ecografía debería ser la primera técnica a utilizar para el diagnóstico de diverticulitis aguda de colon izquierdo. Para establecer el pronóstico de la enfermedad, son útiles diversos parámetros analíticos y hallazgos de imagen. Para una apropiada toma de decisión terapéutica se necesitarían nuevas clasificaciones de gravedad. (AU)

Background and aimsThe current management of acute diverticulitis of the left colon (ADLC) requires tests with high prognostic value. This paper analyzes the usefulness of ultrasonography (US) in the initial diagnosis of ADLC and the validity of current classifications schemes for ADLC.PatientsThis retrospective observational study included patients with ADLC scheduled to undergo US or computed tomography (CT) following a clinical algorithm. According to the imaging findings, ADLC was classified as mild, locally complicated, or complicated. We analyzed the efficacy of US in the initial diagnosis and the reasons why CT was used as the first-line technique. We compared the findings with published classifications schemes for ADLC.ResultsA total of 311 patients were diagnosed with acute diverticulitis; 183 had ADLC, classified at imaging as mild in 104, locally complicated in 60, and complicated in 19. The diagnosis was reached by US alone in 98 patients, by CT alone in 77, and by combined US and CT in 8. The main reasons for using CT as the first-line technique were the radiologist's lack of experience in abdominal US and the unavailability of a radiologists on call. Six patients diagnosed by US were reexamined by CT, but the classification changed in only three. None of the published classification schemes included all the imaging findings.ConclusionsUS should be the first-line imaging technique in patients with suspected ADLC. Various laboratory and imaging findings are useful in establishing the prognosis of ADLC. New schemes to classify the severity of ADLC are necessary to ensure optimal clinical decision making. (AU)

Classification of acute diverticulitis in the left colon with ultrasonography and computed tomography: Value of current severity classification schemes.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The current management of acute diverticulitis of the left colon (ADLC) requires tests with high prognostic value. This paper analyzes the usefulness of ultrasonography (US) in the initial diagnosis of ADLC and the validity of current classifications schemes for ADLC. PATIENTS: This retrospective observational study included patients with ADLC scheduled to undergo US or computed tomography (CT) following a clinical algorithm. According to the imaging findings, ADLC was classified as mild, locally complicated, or complicated. We analyzed the efficacy of US in the initial diagnosis and the reasons why CT was used as the first-line technique. We compared the findings with published classifications schemes for ADLC. RESULTS: A total of 311 patients were diagnosed with acute diverticulitis; 183 had ADLC, classified at imaging as mild in 104, locally complicated in 60, and complicated in 19. The diagnosis was reached by US alone in 98 patients, by CT alone in 77, and by combined US and CT in 8. The main reasons for using CT as the first-line technique were the radiologist's lack of experience in abdominal US and the unavailability of a radiologists on call. Six patients diagnosed by US were reexamined by CT, but the classification changed in only three. None of the published classification schemes included all the imaging findings. CONCLUSIONS: US should be the first-line imaging technique in patients with suspected ADLC. Various laboratory and imaging findings are useful in establishing the prognosis of ADLC. New schemes to classify the severity of ADLC are necessary to ensure optimal clinical decision making.

Is it useful ultrasonography as the first-line imaging technique in patients with suspected acute diverticulitis? / ¿Es útil la ecografía como primera prueba diagnóstica en la sospecha de diverticulitis aguda?

The growing demand for computed tomography studies clashes with the restrictions on the use of ionizing radiation that are being reflected more and more clearly in good practice guidelines and legislation. One paradigmatic example is the diagnosis of acute diverticulitis, for which a increasing amount of computed tomography studies are being demanded with the justification that they are clinically necessary and more reliable than ultrasound studies. The present paper reviews the scientific evidence about the diagnostic validity of ultrasonography and computed tomography in the diagnosis of acute diverticulitis of the colon.

Hemoperitoneo secundario a diverticulitis del sigmoides / Hemoperitoneum secondary to sigmoid diverticulitis

RESUMEN La enfermedad diverticular colónica es la presencia de un divertículo no inflamado en el colon. Se considera una enfermedad común, que se caracteriza por la formación de divertículos falsos en la pared colónica en los puntos de debilidad de esta. Su prevalencia aumenta con la edad y una minoría de los pacientes afectados por esta entidad desarrollará un cuadro de diverticulitis aguda. Sus complicaciones abarcan desde un absceso o flegmón, pasa por la formación de fístulas hasta la obstrucción intestinal y peritonitis. Sin embargo, el desarrollo de un hemoperitoneo espontáneo secundario a una enfermedad diverticular aguda es una forma de presentación inusual y, por tanto, poco reportado en la literatura. Se presenta el caso de un paciente con hemoperitoneo secundario a la perforación diverticular colónica.

SUMMARY Colonic diverticular disease is the term to describe the presence of an uninflamed diverticulum of the colon. It is considered a common disease, characterized by the formation of false diverticula in the colonic wall at points of weakness of that, its prevalence increases with age and a minority of patients affected by this disease develops acute diverticulitis. Its complications range from abscess or phlegmon, fistula formation, to intestinal obstruction and peritonitis. However, the development of spontaneous hemoperitoneum secondary to acute diverticular disease is an unusual form of presentation and therefore scarcely reported in the literature. Here is presented a case with a hemoperitoneum secondary to colonic diverticular perforation.

[Prognostic value of the presence of pericolic air bubbles detected by computed tomography in acute diverticulitis]. / Valor pronóstico de la presencia de burbujas de aire libre pericólico detectadas por tomografía computada en diverticulitis aguda.

BACKGROUND: Diverticular disease is common in industrialized countries. Computed tomography has been used as the preferred diagnostic method; although different scales haves been described to classify the disease, none of them encompass total disease aspects and behaviour. OBJETIVE: To analyze the patients with acute diverticulitis confirmed by computed tomography at the ABC Medical Center Campus Observatorio from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2012, in whom pericolic free air in the form of bubbles was identified by computed tomography and if this finding can be considered as a prognostic factor for the disease. METHODS: A series of 124 patients was analyzed who had acute diverticulitis confirmed by computed tomography, in order to identify the presence of pericolic bubbles. RESULTS: Of the 124 patients, 29 presented with pericolic bubbles detected by computed tomography; of these, 62.1% had localized peritoneal signs at the time of the initial assessment, (P<.001); leukocytosis (13.33 vs 11.16, P<.001) and band count (0.97 vs 0.48, P<.001) was higher in this group. Patients with pericolonic bubbles had a longer hospital stay (5.5days vs 4.3days, P<.001) and started and tolerated liquids later (4.24days vs. 3.02days, P<.001) than the group of patients without this finding. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of pericolic bubbles in patients with acute diverticulitis can be related to a more aggressive course of the disease.

Procedimiento de Hartmann vs resección y anastomosis primaria en peritonitis diverticular de colon izquierdo por cirugía abierta: revisión sistemática de la literatura / Hartmann’s procedure and resection with primary anastomosis in diverticular peritonitis

Introduction: colonic diverticulosis, as diverticulitis, is a frequent disease in different stages of evolution. There is uncertainty about treatment options that are used in secondary peritonitis. The aim of this study is to determine the best treatment option for patients with peritonitis secondary to diverticulitis of the left colon in terms of postoperative morbidity (POM) and mortality, comparing Hartmann's procedure (HP) and resection with primary anastomosis (RPA). Material and Methods: systematic review. Studies in adults with peritonitis secondary to diverticulitis of the left colon treated with HP and RPA published between 1990 and 2011 were analyzed. TRIPDATABSE, IWO, MEDLINE, SciELO and LILACS databases were consulted and search strategies were applied using MeSH and free terms. Selected studies were analyzed using a score of methodological quality (MQ). The following variables were considered: mortality, POM, hospital stay, percentage of bowel transit reconstitution in patients undergoing HP and MQ of primary studies. Results: 26 primary studies were analyzed (47 series). There were no significant differences in the variable mortality (p = 0.0805), but significant difference was observed in POM (incompletely reported) (p = 0.0187). The median of MQ of the studies was 11 points for HP series and 10 for RPA series. Conclusion: the available evidence to determine the best treatment option in terms of mortality and POM in this kind of patients is insufficient. Studies with better level evidence and MQ are needed to clarify the uncertain.

Introducción: la enfermedad diverticular del colon es una entidad frecuente, como también la diverticulitis en sus diferentes estadios de evolución. Existe incertidumbre respecto de las opciones terapéuticas que se utilizan en el tratamiento de la peritonitis diverticular de colon izquierdo (PDCI). El objetivo de este estudio es determinar la mejor opción de tratamiento para pacientes con PDCI entre procedimiento de Hart-mann (PH) y resección con anastomosis primaria (RAP), en términos de mortalidad y morbilidad postoperatoria (MPO). Material y Método: revisión sistemática de la literatura. Se analizaron estudios realizados en adultos con PDCI tratados con PH y RAP, publicados entre 1990 y 2011. Se consultó en las bases de datos TRIPDATABSE, IWO, MEDLINE, SciELO y LILACS, utilizando estrategias de búsqueda con términos MeSH, palabras libres y operadores booleanos. Los estudios seleccionados fueron analizados mediante un escore de calidad metodológica (CM). Se consideraron las variables mortalidad, MPO, estadía hospitalaria, porcentaje de reconstitución de tránsito en pacientes sometidos a PH y CM de los estudios primarios. Resultados: se analizaron 26 estudios primarios (47 series de pacientes). No se encontraron diferencias significativas respecto de la variable mortalidad (p = 0,0805); pero sí en la variable MPO, reportada de forma incompleta (p = 0,0187). La mediana de la CM de los estudios primarios fue de 11 puntos para las series de PH y de 10 para las de RAP. Conclusión: la evidencia disponible no permite determinar la mejor alternativa terapéutica en términos de mortalidad y MPO en este tipo de pacientes. Se requieren estudios de mejor nivel de evidencia y CM para aclarar esta incertidumbre.

Divertículo solitario de ciego como causa de abdomen agudo / Lonely Blind Dive like cause of acute abdomen

La presencia del divertículo solitario en el colon derecho fue descrita ya en 1912 por Potier. Esta entidad se diferencia claramente de la enfermedad diverticular del colon porque ésta se caracteriza por múltiples divertículos. Otra diferencia radica en que el divertículo solitario constituye un divertículo verdadero que compromete todas las capas del intestino, mientras que la enfermedad diverticular del colon evidencia divertículos falsos y es más común en el lado izquierdo. La prevalencia del divertículo solitario del ciego es de 0.17% en la población general y constituye 1% a 2% de los casos de divertículos en la población del hemisferio occidental. Su etiología en la mayoría de casos es congé- nita y muchos de ellos cursan de manera silente. En un 80% de las veces se encuentran a una distancia entre 1 a 2 cm de la válvula ileocecal y un 60% se localizan en la cara anterior del ciego

The presence of the solitary diverticulum in the right colon was already described in 1912 by Potier. This entity clearly differs from diverticular disease of the colon because it is characterized by multiple diverticula Another difference is that the solitary diverticulum constitutes a true diverticulum that compromises all layers of the intestine while diverticular disease of the colon evidences False diverticula and is more common on the left side. The prevalence of the solitary diverticulum of the blind is 0.17% in the general population and constitutes 1% to 2% of cases of diverticula in the population of Western hemisphere. Its etiology in most cases is congé- Nita and many of them attend silently. 80% of the time they are at a distance between 1 to 2 cm from the ileocecal valve and 60% are located on the front of the blind

Diverticulitis aguda colónica: etiología, diagnóstico y alternativas terapéuticas / Acute colonic diverticulitis: etiology, diagnosis and therapeutic alternatives

La enfermedad diverticular es una patología frecuente en nuestra población, la cual corresponde a la herniación de la mucosa a través de puntos de debilidad en la pared colónica. La inflamación y/o perforación de los divertículos suele provocar un cuadro clínico de urgencia, el cual debe ser diagnosticado y resuelto de forma óptima. El diagnóstico clínico se confirma con la tomografía computada de abdomen y pelvis, y de acuerdo a los hallazgos se clasifica y decide la terapeútica adecuada. En los casos de diverticulitis simple donde solo ocurre la inflamación del divertículo, el reposo intestinal y los antibióticos endovenosos son la terapia más efectiva. Ante la presencia de diverticulitis complicada (absceso, peritonitis purulenta o fecaloidea) existen múltiples opciones que comprenden desde el drenaje del absceso vía percutánea, operación de Hartmann, resección y anastomosis primaria, y lavado laparoscópico. En el presente artículo se expone la etiopatogenia, diagnóstico, tratamiento médico y las múltiples alternativas quirúrgicas en los pacientes con diverticulitis aguda complicada.

Diverticular disease of the colon is a quite frecuent pathology in our population, this refers to small outpouchings from the colonic lumen due to mucosal herniation through the colonic wall .Inflammation and/or perforation of the diverticula usually cause a clinical emergency which must be diagnosed and solved optimally. Clinical diagnosis must be confirmed by an abdominal and pelvic computed tomography scanning, according to the findings should be classified and decide on appropriate treatment. Patients with simple diverticulitis, inflammation of diverticulum only, should be hospitalized and treated with bowel rest and intravenous antibiotics. In the presence of complicated diverticulitis (abscess, purulent or fecaloid peritonitis) there are multiple options ranging from: percutaneous abscess drainage, laparoscopic lavage, resection and primary anastomosis, and Hartmann resection. The following article describes the pathogenesis, diagnosis, medical treatment and surgical options for patients with complicated acute diverticulitis.