OBJECTIVE: Acute diverticulitis has been traditionally associated with worse outcome in young patients, indicating a more aggressive surgical approach is required for them. The aim of this study was to assess whether acute diverticulitis was more virulent in young patients. METHODS: A retrospective, cross-sectional study included all patients who were admitted for a first episode of acute diverticulitis between January 2004 and December 2013. The patients were divided into two groups (≤50 years and >50 years) based on their age. Patients' characteristics, clinical and surgical data were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: Overall, 636 patients were included in the database, including 177 (27.8%) in the younger group and 459 in the elder group. There were no significant differences between the groups in disease complexity, peritonitis, laboratory work-up, vital signs on presentation, bowel obstruction or the presence of fistula and abscess in need of drainage. Younger patients had more free extra-luminal air on computed tomography (CT) scan (P = 0.03). Surgical data, including the intra-operative modified Hinchey score and the need for emergency and additional surgery did not significantly differ between the two groups. Young patients had more readmissions (P = 0.01) due to acute diverticulitis, diverticular complications and elective surgery. Length of hospital stay (P = 0.0001) was longer and postoperative complications were more common in the elder patients. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical presentation of acute diverticulitis does not seem to be worse in the young population. Younger patients tend to have a more severe presentation on CT scan and more readmissions, but this did not translate to a more severe disease course.
OBJECTIVE: Acute diverticulitis has been traditionally associated with worse outcome in young patients, indicating a more aggressive surgical approach is required for them. The aim of this study was to assess whether acute diverticulitis was more virulent in young patients. METHODS: A retrospective, cross-sectional study included all patients who were admitted for a first episode of acute diverticulitis between January 2004 and December 2013. The patients were divided into two groups (≤50 years and >50 years) based on their age. Patients' characteristics, clinical and surgical data were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: Overall, 636 patients were included in the database, including 177 (27.8%) in the younger group and 459 in the elder group. There were no significant differences between the groups in disease complexity, peritonitis, laboratory work-up, vital signs on presentation, bowel obstruction or the presence of fistula and abscess in need of drainage. Younger patients had more free extra-luminal air on computed tomography (CT) scan (P = 0.03). Surgical data, including the intra-operative modified Hinchey score and the need for emergency and additional surgery did not significantly differ between the two groups. Young patients had more readmissions (P = 0.01) due to acute diverticulitis, diverticular complications and elective surgery. Length of hospital stay (P = 0.0001) was longer and postoperative complications were more common in the elder patients. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical presentation of acute diverticulitis does not seem to be worse in the young population. Younger patients tend to have a more severe presentation on CT scan and more readmissions, but this did not translate to a more severe disease course.
Authors: Steven N Mathews; Ryan Lamm; Jie Yang; Lijuan Kang; Dana Telem; Aurora D Pryor; Mark Talamini; Jill Genua Journal: J Gastrointest Surg Date: 2016-09-09 Impact factor: 3.452
Authors: Andrew S Miller; Kathryn Boyce; Benjamin Box; Matthew D Clarke; Sarah E Duff; Niamh M Foley; Richard J Guy; Lisa H Massey; George Ramsay; Dominic A J Slade; James A Stephenson; Phil J Tozer; Danette Wright Journal: Colorectal Dis Date: 2021-02 Impact factor: 3.917
Authors: S T van Dijk; K Bos; M G J de Boer; W A Draaisma; W A van Enst; R J F Felt; B R Klarenbeek; J A Otte; J B C M Puylaert; A A W van Geloven; M A Boermeester Journal: Int J Colorectal Dis Date: 2018-03-12 Impact factor: 2.571