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[Right colon diverticulitis].

Diverticulitis involving the right colon is uncommon in the Occident; only one case for every 300 cases of appendicitis occurs in Western countries compared to a ratio of 1/40-1/180 in Asia. The preferential localization of diverticula in the right colon among Asiatics is probably due to genetic factors. In Asia as in the West, a right colon diverticulum is more likely to cause hemorrhage than diverticulitis. The peak age of symptoms is 40-45 years and the sex ratio is 1:1. The patient most commonly presents with symptoms suggestive of acute appendicitis, acute localized peritonitis, or, more rarely, a psoas abscess. Clinical exam reveals an inflammatory mass in the right lower quadrant in 30% of cases; diffuse peritonitis, large abscesses, and fistulae are rare. Helical CT scan is the best tool for establishing the diagnosis and also helps to rule out other possible etiologies in the differential diagnosis-particularly a perforated right colon cancer. In noncomplicated cases with convincing evidence for the diagnosis by CT scan, a conservative (non-surgical) treatment with antibiotics is possible; a later stage colonoscopy will rule out other colonic lesions. More commonly, the correct diagnosis is only made after embarking on an appendectomy via a McBurney incision; the surgical strategy thereafter depends on the level of suspicion regarding the diagnosis and the extent and complexity of the diverticulitis. Therapeutic options may be conservative (appendectomy), limited (diverticulectomy, or extensive (ileocecal resection or right hemicolectomy). For complicated disease (abscess, localized perforation), an aggressive surgical approach is warranted. Surgical strategies need to be validated, particularly in the light of the increasing use of the laparoscopic approach for suspected appendicitis.

Colon↗

[Diverticulitis is increasing among the elderly. Significant cause of morbidity and mortality].

The prevalence of diverticulosis in western countries has increased and two-thirds of the population over the age of 85 are now affected. Diverticulitis results from inflammation and subsequent perforation of a colonic diverticulum. Mild forms of diverticulitis usually present with gradually increasing symptoms from the lower left quadrant of the abdomen, whereas acute complicated disease is characterised by dramatic onset of abdominal pain, followed by fever within a few hours. The standard treatment for uncomplicated diverticulitis is bowel rest, with liquid diet or intravenous fluids in combination with antibiotics. Patients not responding to conservative treatment within the first 24 hours require further evaluation by computed tomography or ultrasonography. If an abscess is present, it can often be drained percutaneously. In cases of perforation and peritonitis, surgical intervention is mandatory, though no consensus exists as to the choice of procedure. Fistula formation and intestinal obstruction are also indications for surgical intervention, although the frequent recurrent attacks which commonly afflict these patients are seldom associated with severe complications. Prophylactic resection is not to be recommended for patients with diverticular disease, but a high-fibre diet may afford protection by preventing further complications.

Aged↗

New perspectives in the management of sigmoid diverticulitis.

The sigmoid colon is the part of the large intestine, which most commonly involved in diverticular disease due to its anatomical properties. Diverticular disease of the colon is being seen with increasing frequency mostly in western countries. Diverticulitis results from inflammation and subsequent perforation of a colonic diverticulum. Mild forms of diverticulitis usually present with gradually increasing symptoms from the lower left quadrant of the abdomen, whereas acute complicated disease is characterised by dramatic onset of abdominal pain, followed by fever within a few hours. The standard treatment for uncomplicated diverticulitis is bowel rest, with liquid diet or intravenous fluids in combination with antibiotics. Prophylactic resection is not to be recommended for patients with diverticular disease, but a high-fibre diet may afford protection by preventing further complications. Patients not responding to conservative treatment within the first 24 hours require further evaluation by computed tomography or ultrasonography. Fistula formation and intestinal obstruction are indications for surgical intervention, although the frequent recurrent attacks, which commonly afflict these patients, are seldom associated with severe complications. Laparoscopic approach has been introduced in the diagnosis and definitive treatment of uncomplicated diverticulitis, with less morbidity and mortality rates, and hospitalisation of the patients and in these terms could be promising in the future.

Colon, Sigmoid↗

Endoscopic crescentic fold disease of the sigmoid colon: the clinical and histopathological spectrum of a distinctive endoscopic appearance.

In this paper we describe an endoscopic appearance of the sigmoid colon characterised by mucosal swelling, erythema and haemorrhage strictly localised to the crescentic mucosal folds. In a 5-year period these changes were seen in 34 (1.42%) of 2380 colonoscopies and fibreoptic sigmoidoscopies. The majority of patients were middle-aged or elderly. Diverticular disease was present in most (82%) but the abnormalities were confined to the crescentic mucosal folds with sparing of the diverticular orifices. The majority of patients presented with a history of bleeding per anum. Histologically there was a spectrum of changes varying from minor vascular congestion to florid active inflammatory disease with crypt architectural abnormalities mimicking ulcerative colitis, but rectal biopsies were invariably normal. Three patients later progressed to typical distal ulcerative colitis and two other patients presenting to us with endoscopic crescentic fold disease had a previous histologically documented history of distal ulcerative colitis. In three patients the histological features were of mucosal prolapse. About half the patients required some form of therapy to control their symptoms. Steroids and/or sulphasalazine were of value although two patients subsequently underwent sigmoid resection, one to control bleeding and the second for a diverticulosis-associated stricture. Whilst endoscopic crescentic fold disease represents a specific endoscopic appearance the clinical and histological features indicate a wide spectrum of disease.

Adult↗

Early water-soluble contrast enema in the diagnosis of acute colonic diverticulitis.

Acute colonic diverticulitis is usually suspected by typical clinical findings supported by laboratory tests. Investigations of the colon are usually delayed 1 to 2 months until the acute situation is resolved. We studied 53 patients with an initial clinical diagnosis of acute diverticulitis by performing early water-soluble contrast enema of the colon. The initial diagnosis proved to be uncertain, as 26 patients (49%) had acute colonic diverticulitis as their final diagnosis. There were ten patients who had diverticulosis of the colon, but without radiologic signs of acute diverticulitis. Four of these patients had some other disease responsible for their symptoms. Thirteen patients had normal findings at early water-soluble contrast enema. Three colonic carcinomas and one ischaemic colitis were diagnosed. There were no complications related to the radiologic studies. We conclude that early water-soluble contrast edema of the left colon is safe and useful in investigating patients with suspected acute colonic diverticulitis. If the finding is normal, investigations can be directed elsewhere without undue delay.

Acute Disease↗

Chemical and histochemical studies of normal and diseased human gastrointestinal tract. I. A comparison between histologically normal colon, colonic tumours, ulcerative colitis and diverticular disease of the colon.

Chemical and histochemical methods were used to compare the epithelial glycoproteins from formalin-fixed surgical specimens of normal human large intestine, colonic tumours, ulcerative colitis and diverticular disease. All the epithelial glycoproteins contained fucose, galactose, glucosamine, galactosamine and, in addition, sialic acids both with and without O-acyl substituents in the side chain and/or at position C4. The glycoproteins of the normal ascending and descending colons differed significantly with respect to the percentage of the sialic acids released following digestion of the de-O-acylated glycoprotein with Vibrio cholera neuraminidase and to the molar fucose-sialic acid ratio. Statistical analysis of the chemical data showed that (a) compared to normal, the sialic acids of the tumour and ulcerative colitis glycoproteins from the descending colon were significantly less substituted in the side chain and at position C4; (b) the O-acetyl substitution pattern of the sialic acids of the ulcerative colitis glycoproteins from the ascending colon and the quantitative composition of the carbohydrate prosthetic groups of the ulcerative colitis glycoproteins from both ascending and descending colons differed from normal; (c) it was not always possible to distinguish between the ulcerative colitis and tumour glycoproteins on the basis of the O-acetyl substitution pattern of their sialic acids; and (d), there were minor differences between normal glycoproteins and those from cases of diverticular disease.

Colitis, Ulcerative↗

[The development of diverticulosis and diverticulitis (author's transl)].

The cause of colonic diverticula is myostatic spasm. A low-residue diet contributes to this state as transit time through the bowel is slowed. Information gathered in 102 cases was analysed. The smooth muscle architecture of specially prepared operative specimens of diverticulosis were examined. In every case an asymmetric contracture of the smooth musculature led to the formation of gaps. Here the mucosa and muscularis mucosae can protrude through the bowel wall. The muscular spasm is responsible for incarceration of the diverticula. Inflammatory diverticulitis is compared to appendicitis.

Appendicitis↗

[Pathologic-anatomic aspects of the formation and complications of diverticula (author's transl)].

Diverticulosis is favored by general (erect posture), diatetic (low-roughage diet) and anatomic factors (discontinuity and particularly spiral arrangement of the musculature). A pouch of mucous membrane passes through the bowel wall in some cases, which makes comparison to the false diverticula of the so-called trabecular urinary bladder understandable. An important feature of the pathogenesis is the displaceable layer between mucosa and musculature. Diverticulosis is the basis of a disease, i.e. diverticulitis: this begins with stercoraceous pressure ulcers, and causes granulation tissue local peridiverticulitis. In peridiverticulitis, confluated inflammation sometimes involves all the sigmoid ensheathing it, with pernicious fomation of scars, i.e. perisigmoiditis. In this way, a disease of the intestinal wall becomes a disease of the intestine. The symptoms of perisigmoiditis are similar to those of carcinoma of the sigma.

Animals↗