Complicated Diverticulitis: Age Distribution, Management and Burden on Health Care.

INTRODUCTION: Acute diverticulitis represents a common surgical condition and one of the leading gastrointestinal causes of hospital admissions in Western societies. The aim of the study is to examine the distribution, management and cost to healthcare of complicated diverticulitis and compare those to uncomplicated diverticulitis. METHODS: The case-control study was performed for patients with acute diverticulitis in Lyell McEwin Hospital in Adelaide, South Australia. Data were collected for patients presented from January 2015 to December 2017. Consecutive patients with acute diverticulitis confirmed by computed tomography were included in the study. Patients recruited for the study were divided into two groups. Patients presenting with Hinchey Ia diverticulitis were classified as 'uncomplicated diverticulitis'. Patients who presented with Hinchey Ib, II, III or IV diverticulitis were classified as 'complicated diverticulitis'. The Hinchey classification was based on the radiological reports of CT scans. RESULTS: From 2015-2017, 116 cases were screened for the study, 10 of which were excluded due to not having CT diagnosis. A total of 106 consecutive cases of acute diverticulitis were recruited for the study. Forty-four cases had complicated diverticulitis. Sixty-two cases with uncomplicated diverticulitis were allocated as a control group. The distribution of cases spanned through all age groups. There were nine cases (20.9%) in the 30-39 age group in the complicated diverticulitis compared to eight cases (12.9%) in the uncomplicated group with odds ratio 1.7 (0.61-4.92). The mean length of stay of the complicated diverticulitis group was 7.74 days compared to 3.93 days of the uncomplicated group with a p value of 0.000235. Nine (20%) cases of the 44 complicated diverticulitis cases were managed operatively, while 35 (80%) of the complicated diverticulitis group and all of the uncomplicated (control) group were managed conservatively. Localized perforations were 24 cases (54.5%) of the complicated diverticulitis group and collections were 18 cases (40.8%). Those cases collectively represented the majority of the complicated group. CONCLUSION: Complicated diverticulitis increases the length of stay significantly in acute diverticulitis cases that are requiring hospital admission despite conservative management in 80% of the cases. Younger age groups represent a significant percentage of both complicated and uncomplicated diverticulitis. In the study population, the percentage of the younger age group was higher in complicated diverticulitis compared to uncomplicated diverticulitis, although this increased risk did not reach statistical significance. This will need to be further investigated in future studies.

Evaluation of Clinical Assessment in Predicting Complicated Acute Diverticulitis.

Background Acute diverticulitis is a common surgical condition and one of the leading gastrointestinal conditions that require hospital admission. The presence of complications increases the hospital stay and risk of requiring surgical intervention. This study aimed to investigate the clinical features that can be identified during clinical assessment and evaluate their predictive value and sensitivity in differentiating between complicated and uncomplicated diverticulitis. Methodology This retrospective case-control study was performed on patients with acute diverticulitis at Lyell McEwin Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia. Data were collected for patients presenting from January 2015 to December 2017. Patients with acute diverticulitis confirmed by computed tomography (CT) were included in the study. Multiple clinical assessment aspects were reported and compared between complicated diverticulitis and uncomplicated diverticulitis groups. Results Data from a total of 116 cases were collected, 10 of which were excluded due to lack of CT diagnosis. Forty-four cases had complicated diverticulitis (case group), and 62 cases had uncomplicated diverticulitis (control group). Twenty-three cases (52.2%) had the first episode of diverticulitis in the complicated group compared to 24 cases (38.7%) in the uncomplicated group, with an odds ratio of 1.73 (0.79-3.789). Eight cases (18.2%) had previously complicated diverticulitis in the complicated group compared to 11 cases (17.7%) in the uncomplicated group, with an odds ratio of 1.03 (0.37-2.82). Six cases (13.6%) had a fever (T > 38) in the complicated group compared to two cases (3.2%) in the uncomplicated group, with an odds ratio of 4.74 (0.9-24.7), a sensitivity of only 13.64%, and a specificity of 96.77%. Twelve cases (27.3%) had tachycardia, two cases (4.5%) had hypotension, and five cases (11.4%) had peritonism in the complicated group compared to two cases (3.2%), one case (1.6%), and one case (1.6%) in the uncomplicated group, with odds ratios of 11.25 (2.37-53.4), 2.9 (0.255-33), and 7.82 (0.88-69.5), respectively; sensitivity was 27.27%, 4.55%, and 11.36% for tachycardia, hypotension, and peritonism, whereas specificity was 96.77%, 98.39%, and 98.39%, respectively. Conclusions The study found no significant correlation between having complicated diverticulitis and previous episodes of complicated diverticulitis, immunosuppression, pain severity, or change in bowel habits. Perrectal bleeding was found to reduce the risk of having complicated diverticulitis. Our results did not demonstrate a statistically significant relationship between the first episode of diverticulitis and having complicated diverticulitis. Physical signs, when abnormal, are highly specific in predicting complicated diverticulitis. Tachycardia was found to have the highest positive predictive value and odds ratio compared to the other observed physical signs.

Continuous Suction Isoperistaltic Gastroesophagostomy for Esophageal Perforation.

Esophageal perforation is a surgical emergency with significant morbidity. Management of this condition is complex and constantly evolving. To our knowledge, this is the first case series describing repair of esophageal perforation with the use of an isoperistaltic gastroesophagostomy tube connected to continuous suction. We present three patients successfully managed using this technique.

Anatomical variation of arterial blood supply of liver segment IV

There has been a dilemma about the arterial supply of segment IV of the liver, and the subsequent risk of ischaemia, necrosis, hepatic artery thrombosis of segment IV after split-liver transplantation or the associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy procedure. We report a rare case of anatomical variation of the arterial blood supply of segment IV of the liver. In this case the proper hepatic artery trifurcated into left, middle and right branches that supplied the liver. Moreover, Segment IV received dual blood supply from both, the middle hepatic artery and the right branch of the proper hepatic artery. Identifying such anatomical variation prior to any liver surgery is essential. It is of particular significance in defining the resection line in liver surgeries. In order to avoid ischaemia, necrosis or cholangiopathy in segment IV, the division of liver parenchyma needs to be based on the anatomy of the arterial blood supply and the intrahepatic blood distribution to segment IV

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Paracaecal hernia: a case report on the evolving role of laparoscopy.

A paracaecal hernia, a type of pericaecal hernias, is a rare cause of small intestinal obstruction. Failure of early recognition and reduction of this type of internal hernia may lead to strangulation of the herniated intestine. There has been a number of case reports in the literature about the different types of pericaecal hernias, however the anatomy of these hernias is still poorly understood and the management is still evolving. We are presenting a 75year old woman, who presented clinically and radiologically with distal small intestinal obstruction. Her past medical history was unremarkable and she had no prior abdominal surgery. After resuscitation, she was taken to the operating theatre for a diagnostic laparoscope, which showed a herniated loop of ileum through a congenital defect in the parietocaecal fold. Reduction of that loop and closure of the peritoneal defect were achieved laparoscopically. Following the procedure, the patient recovered very quickly and she was discharged home within 48h of her initial admission. Patients with pericaecal hernias tend to present with symptoms of distal small intestinal obstruction. The presence of localised peritonism in the right iliac fossa usually indicate strangulation and that should prompt an urgent surgical intervention. In summary, based on our case, excellent results were achieved from early laparoscopic intervention. Therefore, we recommend early laparoscopy for patients presenting with small intestinal obstruction with no history of abdominal surgery.