INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of diverticular disease has been increasing in the western world over the last few decades, causing a growing burden on health care systems. This study compared the uses of flexible sigmoidoscopy with colonoscopy as a follow-up investigation for patients diagnosed with acute left-sided diverticulitis and to evaluate the need for using either procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of 327 patients diagnosed with acute diverticulitis was carried out. Of this total, 240 patients with left-sided diverticulitis diagnosed via computed tomography were included. These patients were categorised into two equal groups: the first 120 patients underwent colonoscopy and the second 120 patients underwent flexible sigmoidoscopy. RESULTS: All colonoscopes and flexible sigmoidoscopes confirmed the computed tomography diagnosis of sigmoid diverticular disease with no major new findings. All colonoscopes and flexible sigmoidoscopes were reported as having no complications, with nine colonoscopes reported as being difficult compared with only three flexible sigmoidoscopes. All biopsies were reported as no malignancy. Full bowel preparation was required in all colonoscopes, compared with no preparation required for flexible sigmoidoscopes. CONCLUSIONS: There is no evidence to support the routine use of endoscopic evaluation after an episode of left-sided diverticulitis diagnosed on computed tomography if no worrying radiological findings have been reported. This study supports similar findings from other studies and therefore we disagree with The Royal College of Surgeons of England (Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland recommendations) commissioning guide, which advocates routine surveillance of the colon.
INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of diverticular disease has been increasing in the western world over the last few decades, causing a growing burden on health care systems. This study compared the uses of flexible sigmoidoscopy with colonoscopy as a follow-up investigation for patients diagnosed with acute left-sided diverticulitis and to evaluate the need for using either procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of 327 patients diagnosed with acute diverticulitis was carried out. Of this total, 240 patients with left-sided diverticulitis diagnosed via computed tomography were included. These patients were categorised into two equal groups: the first 120 patients underwent colonoscopy and the second 120 patients underwent flexible sigmoidoscopy. RESULTS: All colonoscopes and flexible sigmoidoscopes confirmed the computed tomography diagnosis of sigmoid diverticular disease with no major new findings. All colonoscopes and flexible sigmoidoscopes were reported as having no complications, with nine colonoscopes reported as being difficult compared with only three flexible sigmoidoscopes. All biopsies were reported as no malignancy. Full bowel preparation was required in all colonoscopes, compared with no preparation required for flexible sigmoidoscopes. CONCLUSIONS: There is no evidence to support the routine use of endoscopic evaluation after an episode of left-sided diverticulitis diagnosed on computed tomography if no worrying radiological findings have been reported. This study supports similar findings from other studies and therefore we disagree with The Royal College of Surgeons of England (Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland recommendations) commissioning guide, which advocates routine surveillance of the colon.
Authors: Matthew D Rutter; James East; Colin J Rees; Neil Cripps; James Docherty; Sunil Dolwani; Philip V Kaye; Kevin J Monahan; Marco R Novelli; Andrew Plumb; Brian P Saunders; Siwan Thomas-Gibson; Damian J M Tolan; Sophie Whyte; Stewart Bonnington; Alison Scope; Ruth Wong; Barbara Hibbert; John Marsh; Billie Moores; Amanda Cross; Linda Sharp Journal: Gut Date: 2019-11-27 Impact factor: 31.793
Authors: Amanda J Cross; Kate Wooldrage; Emma C Robbins; Kevin Pack; Jeremy P Brown; William Hamilton; Michael R Thompson; Karen G Flashman; Steve Halligan; Siwan Thomas-Gibson; Margaret Vance; Brian P Saunders; Wendy Atkin Journal: Br J Cancer Date: 2018-12-19 Impact factor: 7.640
Authors: Cynthia W Ko; V Paul Doria-Rose; Michael J Barrett; Aruna Kamineni; Lindsey Enewold; Noel S Weiss Journal: PLoS One Date: 2019-12-05 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Richard A Helmers; James A Dilling; Christopher R Chaffee; Mark V Larson; Bradly J Narr; Derek A Haas; Robert S Kaplan Journal: Mayo Clin Proc Innov Qual Outcomes Date: 2017-12-01