Caecal diverticulitis: Presentation and management. Issue 1 (March 2015) - Cristaudo, Adam
Abstract: Introduction: While left sided colonic diverticular disease is common in Western countries, right sided colonic diverticular disease is rare. With increasing migration from Asia, many western countries including Australia, are now seeing more right sided diverticular disease, of which caecal diverticulitis is the commonest. This study aims to determine the incidence of caecal diverticulitis in patients presenting with colonic diverticulitis, as well as identify the symptoms and clinical features that may aid in making a pre-operative diagnosis. Methods: Data was collected using the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital medical records database identifying patients diagnosed with colonic diverticulitis and, more specifically, those with caecal diverticulitis from January 2007 to December 2013. Only those patients who had confirmed caecal diverticulitis on imaging studies or at laparoscopy on their first admission were included in this study. Results: A total of 632 patients with colonic diverticulitis were admitted to our institution over a seven-year period, of which 13 patients had caecal diverticulitis (2.06%). Of the 13 patients, twelve were of Asian background and ten were considered young (≤50 years of age). The main complaints were right sided abdominal pain (n = 11, 84.6%) and diarrhoea (n = 5, 38.5%). Nine were diagnosed using computed tomography (n = 9/10, 90%), three on laparoscopy and one using ultrasound (n = 1/2, 50%). Ten patients were treated successfully by conservative means. Discussion: A high index of suspicion in Asian patients with atypical symptoms of appendicitis, especially diarrhoea, may provide the diagnosis of caecal diverticulitis. Highlights: CD occurs mostly in young Asians, presenting with atypical symptoms of appendicitis. With increasing migration, more patients are presenting in Western countries with CD. If imaging confirms uncomplicated CD, conservative treatment is recommended. In our limited study, diagnosis of CD was superior with computed tomography.