Objective:
Acute diverticulitis is a common disease of western society and it is gradually increasing in frequency. Although its etiology, natural course, complications and diagnostic methods are defined, there is no agreement in the literature on which treatment option should be implemented. Nonoperative approaches in the treatment of acute diverticulitis are coming into prominence in recent years. Parallel with the discussions in the literature, we aim to present changes in our clinical approach to acute diverticulitis in last 5 years.
Material and Methods:
Patients admitted to our clinic with acute abdomen and diagnosed as acute diverticulitis and treated between January 2010 and February 2016 were analyzed retrospectively. The demographic characteristics of the patients, radiological findings, treatment modalities (medical / surgical), length of hospital stay, morbidity and mortality rates were evaluated.
Results:
Of 106 patients, 67 (63.2%) were male and mean age was 54.3 (27-87). The average length of hospital stay was 4.4 days (range 1-18). 79.2% of patients were governed medically and 20.8% of pantients were treated with a surgical procedure. The mean follow-up period was 28 months (range 15-39). When the number of applications are considered, surgical approaches in treatment are found to be reduced to appropriate levels proportional to the treatment modalities of modern age.
Conclusion:
Nonoperative approach in uncomplicated acut diverticulitis is an effective and reliable method. In complicated diverticulitis, surgical techniques , primarily nonresectional approaches, can be applied.
Keywords: Diverticulosis, diverticulitis, Hartmann procedure, percutaneous drainage