[Primary diagnostics of acute diverticulitis of the sigmoid]. / Primärdiagnostik der akuten Sigmadivertikulitis. Sonografie versus Computertomografie, eine prospektive Studie.

AIM: The initial diagnostics of acute diverticulitis of the sigmoid should render the correct diagnosis as well as assisting in the decision on the options of conservative or surgical treatment by ruling out or demonstrating complications. At present, sonography or computed tomography (CT) are the two competing diagnostic options. This study was designed to demonstrate that sonography could be used as the method of choice. METHOD: 63 patients with clinical suspicion of acute diverticulitis of the sigmoid were examined initially by sonography or CT in a prospective study. RESULTS: Sonography and CT showed a 97 % sensitivity and specificity for reaching the accurate and clinically plausible diagnosis. As to the demonstration of complications of the disease, sensitivity and specificity were comparably high for both diagnostic methods. CONCLUSIONS: Sonography can compete with the more complex CT examination and therefore represents the recommended primary diagnostic procedure.

Postoperative complications of pancreatic cancer surgery.

The incidence of ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas has been increasing worldwide in recent years. About 5% to 25% of all pancreatic cancers are resectable and only curatively resected patients enjoy a favourable outcome. But even in experienced centers a postoperative morbidity of 30-50% and a mortality around or underneath 5% is reported. As long term-survival is rare and complications are frequent the quality of life for the remaining months or years is of paramount importance. The most severe complications lead to reoperations, prolonged hospital stay, fatigue, and nutritional disorders thereby markedly compromising quality of life. Therefore, prevention and management of complications after pancreatic resections are reviewed. Prevention of disastrous complications is possible using a decent surgical technique and handling the soft pancreatic remnant in cancer patients carefully. The end-to-side, duct-to-mucosa anastomosis is the most preferred technique. The therapy of pancreatic leakage should be individualized and completion pancreatectomy should only be an option for recurrent hemorrhage, and a necrotic pancreatic stump. The continuous postoperative observation of the patient is of paramount importance to diagnose other severe complications, such as hemorrhage and septic complications, in time. Only early diagnosis and management of these complications can improve outcome and save life. Pancreaticoduodenectomy can be a safe procedure in experienced institutions, where the whole medical team is able to diagnose and treat these complications at any time.

Multi-slice spiral CT in routine diagnosis of suspected acute left-sided colonic diverticulitis: a prospective study of 120 patients.

This prospective study evaluated the use of multi-slice CT (MSCT) for detection of clinically suspected left-sided colonic diverticulitis with regard to diagnosis, complications and alternative diagnoses. One hundred twenty patients with clinically suspected acute left-colonic diverticulitis underwent MSCT of the lower abdomen with IV contrast after rectal application of iodic contrast. The MSCT results were compared with histopathological and intraoperative findings or other radiological or endoscopic methods and clinical outcome. Acute diverticulitis was proven in 67 of the 120 (55.8%) patients, which was detected by MSCT with an accuracy of 98% (sensitivity 97%, specificity 98%). Contained perforation or abscess formation were detected with an accuracy of 96% (sensitivity 100%, specificity 91%) and 98% (sensitivity 100%, specificity 97%), respectively. In 31 of 120 (25.8%) patients diagnoses other than diverticulitis caused abdominal pain, which was correctly diagnosed by MSCT in 71%. The MSCT as well as other concurrently performed diagnostic methods showed normal findings and no causes for the patients symptoms in 22 of the 120 (18.4%) patients. Multi-slice CT is reliable in detecting diverticulitis, including extracolic complications, and often reveals other diagnoses; therefore, MSCT is recommended as standard diagnostic procedure in suspected acute diverticulitis.