Abstract
PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to examine the longterm results of medical and surgical management for diverticulitis. METHODS: A retrospective review of all patients admitted to Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Virginia, between January 1991 and February 1994, was conducted. Of 78 patients included in the study, 65 were able to be contacted for follow-up. RESULTS: The surgically treated group consisted of 33 patients, and medically treated group had 32 patients. Of the medically treated group, 62.5 percent were found to have continuing symptoms. Medically treated patients with a long history and infrequent flares tended to be less symptomatic after hospitalization. Conversely, those medical patients with a short intense history were more likely to have symptoms. The frequency of symptoms in the surgical group was surprising, because 27.2 percent of this group reported continuing symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Close follow-up of medically treated patients for objective evidence of diverticulitis is indicated. When surgical therapy is undertaken, patients should be counseled that symptoms may be largely unchanged following operation.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Corman ML. Colon and rectal surgery. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: JB Lippincott, 1993.
Rothenberger D, Wltz O. Surgery for complicated diverticulitis. Surg Clin North Am 1993;73:975–92.
Schauer P, Ramos R, Ghiatas A. Virulent diverticular disease in young obese men. Am J Surg 1992;164:443–51.
Parks TG. Natural history of diverticular disease of the colon: a review of 521 cases. Br J Surg 1969;4:639–42.
Leigh JE, Judd ES, Waugh JM. Diverticulitis of the colon: recurrence after apparently adequate segmental resection. Am J Surg 1962;103:51–4.
Benn PL, Wolff BG, Ilstrup DM. Level of anastomosis and recurrent colonic diverticulitis. Am J Surg 1986;151:269–71.
National Center for Health Statistics. Washington, D.C. [3:01-436-7125].
Breen RE, Corman ML, Robertson WG, Prgaer ED. Are we really operating on diverticulitis? Dis Colon Rectum 1986;29:174–9.
Parks TG, Connell AM. The outcome in 455 patients admitted for treatment of diverticular disease of the colon. Br J Surg 1970;57:775–8.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
About this article
Cite this article
Munson, K.D., Hensien, M.A., Jacob, L.N. et al. Diverticulitis. Dis Colon Rectum 39, 318–322 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02049475
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02049475