A retrospective analysis of medical or surgical therapy in young patients with diverticulitis.

Publication/Presentation Date

5-15-2005

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Acute diverticulitis is increasingly being recognized in younger patients, but its management remains controversial.

AIM: To compare long-term outcomes of young patients treated with surgery vs. medical therapy for their first episode of diverticulitis.

METHODS: A retrospective chart analysis at a university and an affiliated community hospital between 1991 and 2002 revealed 149 patients < or = 40 years of age with confirmed diverticulitis. Forty-nine patients (38 males, 11 females) were contacted at least 1 year after their first episode of diverticulitis. Outcomes were compared based on initial therapy--antibiotics or surgical resection. The groups were compared by outcomes, gender, age, white blood cell count, temperature and diet.

RESULTS: Three (15%) of 20 surgical patients (mean follow-up 6.89 years), and 16 (55%) of 29 medical patients had a recurrence of diverticulitis (mean follow-up 5.72 years; P = 0.01). The treatment groups did not differ in age, white blood cell count, or temperature.

CONCLUSIONS: (i) Surgical treatment is effective initial therapy but disease may recur in a minority of patients; (ii) medical treatment is less effective initial therapy, with recurrence in half of the patients; (iii) initial presentation is not a strong predictor of disease recurrence.

Volume

21

Issue

10

First Page

1225

Last Page

1229

ISSN

0269-2813

Disciplines

Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods

PubMedID

15882243

Department(s)

Administration and Leadership

Document Type

Article

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS