Right-sided acute diverticulitis in the West: experience at a university hospital in Argentina

Abstract

Purpose: In the West, diverticular disease is located mainly in the left colon. However, it can also present in the right colon, with an incidence of 1%–2% in Caucasians. The purpose of this study was to describe our experience in right-sided acute diverticulitis (RD).Methods: In this retrospective study, 410 patients with acute diverticulitis treated from 2013 to 2020 were included in a university hospital in Córdoba, Argentina. Colonic diverticulitis was stratified into 2 groups; RD and left-sided acute diverticulitis. Demographic and clinical variables, laboratory and imaging findings, type of treatment, follow-up, and recurrence were analyzed.Results: Sixteen patients (3.9%) with RD were identified; 62.5% were male and the mean age was 40.7±11.7 years. A total of 81.3% were Caucasian and 18.7% Native American. Significant differences were found between both groups of diverticulitis; patients with RD were younger (P=0.001), with lower BMI (P=0.01), comorbidity rate (P=0.01), Charlson comorbidity index (P=0.02), hospital stay (P=0.01), severity according to the Hinchey classification (P=0.001) and had a lower recurrence rate (P=0.001). There were no significant differences in sex (P=0.95), duration of pain until admission (P=0.05), laboratory findings (P=0.23) and treatment (P=0.34).Conclusion: Conservative treatment predominated in RD, with a lower rate of complications and recurrences, providing data that support conservative therapy as initial treatment in RD in our environment.

Right‐sided acute diverticulitis in a North African country: Presentation and management in one surgical center

“…Yet, computed tomography (CT) has shown a specificity of 90%-95% in various series. 13,20 In a recent retrospective study, Zuckerman et al 21 evaluated the percentage of preoperative diagnosis of RSD before and after standardization of CT scanning for acute lower right quadrant pain. They found a significant improvement in the rate of preoperative diagnosis: 96.8% during the period of scanner availability versus 60% in the nonaccessibility period.…”

“…Some authors praise its strong contribution if it is performed by an experienced radiologist, 17,19 but this has not been proven in recent studies. Yet, computed tomography (CT) has shown a specificity of 90%–95% in various series 13,20 . In a recent retrospective study, Zuckerman et al 21 .…”