Acute left colonic diverticulitis in young patients.

BACKGROUND: This prospective study was done to compare acute left-sided colonic diverticulitis in young patients (50 years of age or less) and older patients (more than 50 years of age) for severity of disease and immediate and late outcome. STUDY DESIGN: Of the 265 patients studied, 61 were 50 years of age or less; of these, 49 were men. In all instances, diagnosis was confirmed radiologically or histologically. RESULTS: Operations were performed less often upon younger patients than older patients (15 versus 33 percent, p = 0.001). Severe diverticulitis was found more often in younger men than older men (39 versus 23 percent). After successful conservative treatment during the first hospitalization period, younger men had a statistically greater risk of poor outcome than older men (29 versus 5 percent, p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Although younger men have severe acute diverticulitis more often than older men, operative treatment during the first episode is less often needed. On the other hand, after conservative treatment, younger men have a statistically greater chance of poor secondary outcome than older men.

Acute left colonic diverticulitis: a prospective analysis of 226 consecutive cases.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the immediate and late outcome of acute left colonic diverticulitis and to correlate it with age (younger and older than 50 years of age), gender, and initial computed tomography (CT) findings. METHODS: Analysis was made of data collected prospectively from all patients admitted because of acute colonic diverticulitis between October 1986 and January 1992. Diagnosis relied on results of operation, CT, and Gastrografin enema. Two hundred twenty-six patients were urgently hospitalized for acute left colonic diverticulitis; 47 were younger than 50 years of age (21%). RESULTS: Sixty-six patients (29%) were operated on during their first hospitalization. The remaining 160 patients treated conservatively underwent CT and an enema within 72 hours of admission. Fifty-nine of 179 patients (33%) older than 50 years of age required operation during their first attack, compared with 7 in 47 patients (15%) younger than 50 years of age (p = 0.02), although on CT severe diverticulitis was found in 36 of 141 patients (26%) older than 50 years of age and in 16 of 43 patients (37%) younger than 50 years of age (p = 0.13). Of the 160 patients treated conservatively, 11 of 40 patients (28%) younger than 50 years of age experienced recurrences or complications after their first discharge, compared with 16 in 120 patients (13%) older than 50 years of age (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Patients younger than 50 years of age were significantly more prone to recurrences and complications after conservative treatment of their diverticulitis, whereas older patients required operation significantly more often during their first hospitalization.

[Pneumoretroperitoneum: diagnostic and therapeutic approach]. / Pneumo-rétropéritoine: approche diagnostique et thérapeutique.

This retrospective study deals with etiology, paths of extension, radiological signs and treatment of pneumoretroperitoneum. The 15 cases presented were seen over a 10-year period. Etiology was infectious in 6 patients, traumatic in 5, and iatrogenic in 4. Treatment applied was surgical in 12 patients, the remaining 3 (who all had their pneumoretroperitoneum secondary to endoscopy) could be handled conservatively. Even though pneumoretroperitoneum is seldom encountered, it should be quickly recognized in order to apply prompt adequate therapy.

Pathophysiology, recognition and management of pneumoretroperitoneum.

The medical records of 15 patients found to have pneumoretroperitoneum in a 10-year period were reviewed. The cause of retroperitoneal emphysema was infection in six patients, trauma in five and iatrogenic in four. Emphysema was confined to the retroperitoneum in 11 patients, and extended to the mediastinum in four and to the soft tissue of the neck in three. Failure to diagnose pneumoretroperitoneum resulted in delayed intervention in two patients. One patient with pneumoretroperitoneum and pneumoperitoneum secondary to a lung lesion underwent unnecessary laparotomy. Outcome was favourable in these three patients. The presence of air in the retroperitoneum is not dangerous but its early recognition and detection of the source are important as septic conditions may be involved.

[Value of computerized tomography in acute diverticulitis of the left colon]. / Intérêt pronostique de la tomodensitométrie computérisée dans la diverticulite aiguë du côlon gauche.

This prospective study focuses on the prediction of late outcome after acute left colonic diverticulitis successfully treated conservatively and in which the diagnosis was confirmed radiologically (computed tomography [CT] and gastrografin enema [GE]). Acute diverticulitis was diagnosed in 226 patients. Sixty-six patients (29%) were operated on during their first hospitalization, and 2 of them died (3% mortality). The remaining 160 patients, successfully treated conservatively, had a CT and a GE within 72 hours of admission and entered this study. Signs of severity on CT included the presence of abscess(es) and/or extraluminal air and/or extraluminal hydrosoluble contrast (Gastrografin). Follow-up averaged 25 months (range 1 month to 5.3 years). Twenty-seven of these 160 patients (17%) had a poor outcome (persistent diverticulitis in 12, colonic stenosis in 6, recurrences in 7, residual parasigmoid abscess and colovesical fistula in one each). When comparing these 27 patients with the 133 others it appeared that: (1) men up to 50 years of age were significantly more prone to develop such complications (p = 0.003); (2) the probability of developing a complication was significantly greater when the initial CT had revealed an abscess and/or extraluminal air and/or extraluminal Gastrografin (p = 0.005). These results support the view that elective colectomy can reasonably be proposed after a first attack of acute left diverticulitis treated conservatively in men up to 50 years of age, and/or in patients whose initial CT revealed findings of severe diverticulitis.

[Resurgence of a forgotten pathology: pylephlebitis caused by tuberculous adenopathies]. / Résurgence d'une pathologie oubliée: la pyléphlébite par adénopathies tuberculeuses.

The incidence of abdominal tuberculosis represents less than 1% of all forms of tuberculosis. We report the case of a portal vein thrombosis associated with tuberculous adenopathy of the hepatic hilum discovered in a young woman free of symptoms, without any risk factors, who had recovered from a cavity pulmonary tuberculosis after a classical anti-tuberculous treatment. This case suggests that abdominal tuberculosis often remains undiagnosed. Reemergence of tuberculosis is likely because of the increase in the incidence of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Incidence, outcome, and proposed management of isolated abscesses complicating acute left-sided colonic diverticulitis. A prospective study of 140 patients.

In a prospective evaluation of 140 consecutive patients with acute left-sided colonic diverticulitis demonstrated by computerized tomography (CT) in all cases, 22 (16 percent) were found to have an associated abscess without peritonitis. Thirteen of these 22 required surgery (seven during the first stay and six from 2 to 11 months after the acute episode; median, three months). Nine patients were treated conservatively, eight of whom are now totally asymptomatic 24 months after the initial attack (range, 10-47 months). There were 10 mesocolic abscesses (seven treated with antibiotics alone), nine pelvic abscesses (seven requiring surgery), and three intra-abdominal abscesses, all operated upon. These results suggest that mesocolic abscesses can usually be managed conservatively without drainage; should surgery be necessary, en bloc resection with immediate anastomosis can usually be safely performed. Pelvic and intraabdominal abscesses behave more aggressively and usually require a two-stage surgical procedure when initial percutaneous drainage cannot be performed or is felt to be hazardous.

Computed tomography of retroperitoneal duodenal rupture in blunt abdominal trauma.

Two cases of retroperitoneal duodenum rupture following an upper abdominal blunt trauma are reported. Computed tomography (CT) demonstrates at best extraintestinal fluid and air in the retroperitoneum, especially if acquisition in right lateral decubitus is possible. Drawbacks of the method are also reviewed.

Prognostic factors from computed tomography in acute left colonic diverticulitis.

This prospective study examined factors which may predict a poor outcome (complications and recurrence) after a first attack of diverticulitis which has been successfully managed conservatively. Twenty-four of 107 patients who entered the study had a poor outcome: persistent diverticulitis (nine cases), recurrence (seven cases), colonic stenosis (six cases), residual parasigmoid abscess (one case) and colovesical fistula (one case). Eight of the 18 men aged 50 years or less had a poor outcome compared with 16 of the remaining 89 patients (P = 0.032). Twelve of 76 patients (16 per cent) with mild findings on computed tomography (CT) (localized thickening of colonic wall and inflammation of pericolic fat) had a poor outcome compared with 11 of 23 patients (48 per cent) whose CT was estimated as severe (abscess and/or extraluminal air and/or extraluminal Gastrografin) (P = 0.004). These results suggest that elective colectomy can be proposed after a first attack of acute left diverticulitis in men up to 50 years of age and/or in patients whose initial CT reveals findings of severe diverticulitis.

Critical review of the treatment of pyogenic hepatic abscess.

A retrospective review of 29 consecutive patients with pyogenic hepatic abscesses was undertaken to ascertain the efficacy of various treatments. Percutaneous routes were used 25 times (aspiration alone in 16 and with concomitant drainage in nine), as a primary step 22 times and for recurrent abscesses, three times. An operation was required in nine patients; initially in five and after percutaneous treatment in four. Antibiotics alone were used twice. There were seven deaths, two after antibiotics alone and five after initial percutaneous aspirations. There were six recurrent abscesses, all but one after percutaneous aspiration. Our results suggest that antibiotics alone and percutaneous aspiration alone are inadequate in the treatment of pyogenic hepatic abscesses; percutaneous management is valid provided concomitant drainage is used, and that once the abscess has been successfully handled percutaneously, surgical treatment is a safe alternative as a first step, for abscesses recurring after percutaneous management, or for removal of the primary cause of the disease.

[Constipation and incontinence: significance of colonic transit time, anorectal manometry and defecography]. / Constipation et incontinence: intérêt du temps de transit colique, de la manométrie ano-rectale et de la défécographie.

Constipation and fecal incontinence are frequent motives of gastroenterological consultation. An etiological diagnosis can often be suspected from the history and can be confirmed by functional testing. We here report our experience with the measurement of colonic transit time (TTC), anorectal manometry (MAR) and defecography (D). Whilst TTC was unhelpful, MAR revealed abdomino-pelvic asynchrony (anismus) in 60 constipated patients and 7 (47%) of 15 incontinent patients. Perineal descent was suspected in 25 constipated patients and confirmed by defecography, which also revealed associated static pelvic disorders. Our experience confirms the role of functional exploration in the investigation of constipation and fecal incontinence and permits a more precise therapeutic approach.

[Imaging in chronic pancreatitis]. / L'imagerie de la pancréatite chronique.

The author presents the different imaging modalities that are now available for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic pancreatitis. These methods are indispensable although they do not preclude clinical examination and laboratory studies. The classical examinations such as plain abdominal film, upper GI studies and barium enema, cholangiography and arteriography are still of interest, especially in the diagnosis of complications and preoperative cartography. ERCP is still the only means of visualizing the many ducts, and often serves to differentiate pancreatitis from certain neoplastic lesions. CT is now the most effective method, even though a negative scan does not exclude the diagnosis of pancreatitis. Sonography maintains its usefulness in initial screening as well as in follow-up evaluation. Magnetic resonance imaging does not offer an advantage over CT, but future prospects are encouraging. Percutaneous diagnostic or therapeutic procedures under radiological guidance now belong to the current medical arsenal. Under fluoroscopic, sonographic or CT control, percutaneous drainage is often offered as an alternative or a complement to surgery.

[Percutaneous drainage of intra-abdominal fluid collections using computed tomography]. / Le drainage percutané sous scanner des collections intra-abdominales.

Percutaneous catheter drainage guided by computed tomography has been used to treat 45 intraabdominal collections in 32 patients. The 45 drainages involved 15 pancreatic cysts of chronic pancreatitis, 15 spontaneous abscesses and 15 postoperative abscesses. The collections were treated either by one puncture only or by drainage, with a success rate of 87.5%. Morbidity was 2.2% (one right empyema after puncture of a postoperative right subphrenic abscess). Mortality was nil. Three inadequate drainages due to enteric communication required secondary surgery. It is concluded that, if the indications are correct, percutaneous drainage guided by CT is as good as surgery and involves lower morbidity and mortality.

[Appendicular invagination and post-appendectomy invagination]. / Invagination appendiculaire et invagination post-appendicectomie.

Intussusception of the appendix is an uncommon event (200 cases previously reported) and intussusception after appendicectomy is rare (20 cases previously published). Two recent cases are reported, the first with primary appendiceal intussusception and the second ileocolic intussusception after appendicectomy. In the second case the final pathology report revealed an intussuscepted caecal duplication responsible for the ileocolic intussusception. This event has not been previously reported. Symptomatology, investigation, classification, differential diagnosis and surgical tactics are discussed.