Racial Disparity in the Surgical Management of Diverticular Disease

Introduction Although minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has clearly been associated with improved colorectal surgery outcomes, not all populations benefit from this approach. Using a national database, we analyzed both, the trend in the utilization of MIS for diverticulitis and differences in utilization by race. Methods Colon-targeted participant user files (PUFs) from 2012 to 18 were linked to respective PUFs in National Surgical Quality Improvement Project. Patients undergoing colectomy for acute diverticulitis or chronic diverticular disease were included. Surgical approach was stratified by race and year. To adjust for confounding and estimate the association of covariates with approach, data were fit using multivariable binary logistic regression main effects model. Using a joint effects model, we evaluated whether the odds of a particular approach over time was differentially affected by race. Results Of the 46 713 patients meeting inclusion criteria, 83% were white, with 7% black and 10% other. Over the study period, there was a decrease in the rate of open colectomy of about 5% P < .001, and increase in the rate of utilization of laparoscopic and robotic approaches (RC) P < .0001. After adjusting for confounders, black race was associated with open surgery P < .0001. Conclusion There is disparity in the utilization of MIS for diverticulitis. Further research into the reasons for this disparity is critical to ensure known benefits of MIC are realized across all races.

Conservative Management of Complicated Colonic Diverticulitis in Early and Late Elderly

Background and Objectives: The management of complicated diverticulitis in the elderly can be a challenge and initial non-operative treatment remains controversial. In this study, we investigate the effectiveness of conservative treatment in elderly people after the first episode of complicated diverticulitis. Materials and Methods: This retrospective single-centre study describes 71 cases of elderly patients with complicated acute colonic diverticulitis treated with conservative management at Parma University Hospital from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2019. Diverticulitis severity was staged according to WSES CT driven classification for acute diverticulitis. Patients was divided into two groups: early (65–74 yo) and late elderly (>75 yo). Results: We enrolled 71 elderly patients conservatively treated for complicated acute colonic diverticulitis, 25 males and 46 females. The mean age was 74.78 ± 6.8 years (range 65–92). Localized abdominal pain and fever were the most common symptoms reported in 34 cases (47.88%). Average white cells count was 10.04 ± 5.05 × 109/L in the early elderly group and 11.24 ± 7.89 in the late elderly group. CRP was elevated in 29 (78.3%) cases in early elderly and in 23 late elderly patients (67.6%). A CT scan of the abdomen was performed in every case (100%). Almost all patients were treated with bowel rest and antibiotics (95.7%). Average length of stay was 7.74 ± 7.1 days (range 1–48). Thirty-day hospital readmission and mortality were not reported. Average follow-up was 52.32 ± 31.8 months. During follow-up, home therapy was prescribed in 48 cases (67.6%). New episodes of acute diverticulitis were reported in 20 patients (28.1%), elevated WBC and chronic NSAID therapy were related to a higher risk of recurrence in early elderly patients (p < 0.05). Stage IIb-III with elevated WBC during first episode, had a higher recurrence rate compared to the other CT-stage (p = 0.006). Conclusions: The management of ACD in the elderly can be a challenge. Conservative treatment is safe and effective in older patients, avoiding unnecessary surgery that can lead to unexpected complications due to co-morbidities.

Computer tomography in diagnostics and treatment of inflammatory complications of diverticular disease of the colon

AIM: to evaluate the role of computed tomography (CT) in the treatment and diagnostic algorithm in patients with complicated diverticular disease (CDD).PATIENTS AND METHODS: during the period from 2014 to 2020, 165 hospitalized patients with complications of CDD included in the study. Fifteen (9.1%) patients were hospitalized for elective indications and 150 (90.9%) as emergencies. The indications for hospitalization were inflammatory complications of CDD. Computed tomography with intravenous contrast was performed in 89 (53.9%) patients. The study was performed on a 64-slice CT “Philips Brilliance 64” with intravenous bolus injection of a low-osmolar iodine-containing contrast agent. The absence of the CT in the remaining patients is due to the presence of classical symptoms of acute diverticulitis with a previously verified diagnosis of CDD, the presence of an informative transabdominal ultrasound, as well as the refusal of patients from CT.RESULTS: the CT allowed to verify the presence of diverticula in the patients, to reveal the distinctive CT signs and pathognomonic symptoms of inflammatory complications of CDD, as well as to establish the severity of the complications that occurred. The specific signs of the destruction of the diverticulum and the complications developed were abdominal mass, abscess, peritonitis, and fistula. Besides the diagnostic value, CT scan permitted to choose the treatment approach and to clarify indications for surgery. Besides that, some CDD complications revealed by CT were considered as a predictor of ineffectiveness of conservative treatment, which requires surgery.CONCLUSION: CT is a valuable diagnostic method for CDD which allows to determine timely the clinical form of inflammatory complication, to find out indications for surgery and to predict high risk of recurrence.

Comprehensive Ultrasound Diagnosis of Sigmoid Diverticulitis

Aim. A definition and systematisation of sigmoid diverticulitis semiotics in a comprehensive ultrasonic check-up for early illness diagnosis.Materials and methods. Ultrasound examination data on 64 patients with sigmoid diverticulum have been analysed. The primary visit reason was recurrent varying-intensity pain in left abdominal quadrant, unstable stool and flatulence. The patients were 28 (43.75%) men and 36 (56.25%) women aged 38–85 years, mean age 55.6 years; 31 (48.44%) were diagnosed with diverticulitis. We used the HD15 (Philips, the Netherlands), HS 60 (Samsung, South Korea) and Hi Vision Preirus (Hitachi, Japan) ultrasound instruments equipped with convex and intracavitary microconvex 2–12 MHz linear transducers. Patients were examined on an empty stomach and unprepared intestine. Colon and rectum were explored at different approaches, transabdominally, transperineally, transrectally and transvaginallyResults. The findings laid out a more elaborated ultrasound semiotics of diverticulitis. Ultrasound check-up enables a reliable estimation of blood supply and peristalsis, colonic wall thickness and layers, presence of asymptomatic diverticula, signs of acute diverticulitis (pain on sensor touch, mesocolic tissue infiltration, presence of faecal calculi and gas in diverticulum, peridiverticulitis) and other complications of diverticular disease (fistulae, abscess or peritonitis), as well as a consistent differential instrumental diagnosis of other organ illnesses.Conclusion. Ultrasound is an indispensable supplement in clinical diagnosis of diverticula, diverticulitis and their complications in the cases when other methods like X-ray, CT or colonoscopy are contraindicated.

Predictors of Clinical Course and Outcomes of Acute Diverticulitis: The Role of Age and Ethnicity

Background and Objectives: Acute diverticulitis (AD) is the leading and most burdensome complication of colonic diverticulosis. However, risk factors for its development and predictors of its course are still poorly defined. In this regard, the association of a young age with a complicated course and worse outcome are still controversial. Moreover, little research has addressed the effect of ethnicity on the course of AD. The current study aimed to evaluate the impact of these variables on AD’s course and outcome in the diverse and unique ethnic landscape of Israel. Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective review of the charts of patients with a radiologically confirmed diagnosis of AD. Patients’ outcomes and disease course, including hospitalization duration, complications, and recurrent episodes, were documented and compared among different age and ethnic groups. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify predictors of complicated AD. Results: Overall, 637 patients with AD were included, the majority (95%) had distal colon AD, and almost one quarter of them were aged less than 50 years. The majority of patients in the young age (<50) group were males (69.7%). Nonetheless, the rate of recurrent episodes (35.3% vs. 37.3%, p = 0.19), hospitalization duration (5 ± 4.7 vs. 6 ± 3.2, p = 0.09) and complications rate (17.3% vs. 13.7%; p = 0.16) were similar for both age groups. In the ethnicity group analysis, Arab minority patients had a first episode of AD at a significantly younger age compared to their Jewish counterparts (51.8 vs. 59.4 years, p < 0.001). However, factors such as a complicated course (16% vs. 15%; p = 0.08) and relapsing episode rates (33% vs. 38%; p = 0.36) did not differ significantly between groups. None of the variables, including young age and ethnic group, were predictors of complicated AD course in the multivariate analysis. Conclusion: AD is increasingly encountered in young patients, especially in ethnic minority groups, but neither ethnicity nor young age was associated with worse outcomes.

Machine Learning Model for Outcome Prediction of Patients Suffering from Acute Diverticulitis Arriving at the Emergency Department—A Proof of Concept Study

Background & Aims: We aimed at identifying specific emergency department (ED) risk factors for developing complicated acute diverticulitis (AD) and evaluate a machine learning model (ML) for predicting complicated AD. Methods: We analyzed data retrieved from unselected consecutive large bowel AD patients from five hospitals from the Mount Sinai health system, NY. The study time frame was from January 2011 through March 2021. Data were used to train and evaluate a gradient-boosting machine learning model to identify patients with complicated diverticulitis, defined as a need for invasive intervention or in-hospital mortality. The model was trained and evaluated on data from four hospitals and externally validated on held-out data from the fifth hospital. Results: The final cohort included 4997 AD visits. Of them, 129 (2.9%) visits had complicated diverticulitis. Patients with complicated diverticulitis were more likely to be men, black, and arrive by ambulance. Regarding laboratory values, patients with complicated diverticulitis had higher levels of absolute neutrophils (AUC 0.73), higher white blood cells (AUC 0.70), platelet count (AUC 0.68) and lactate (AUC 0.61), and lower levels of albumin (AUC 0.69), chloride (AUC 0.64), and sodium (AUC 0.61). In the external validation cohort, the ML model showed AUC 0.85 (95% CI 0.78–0.91) for predicting complicated diverticulitis. For Youden’s index, the model showed a sensitivity of 88% with a false positive rate of 1:3.6. Conclusions: A ML model trained on clinical measures provides a proof of concept performance in predicting complications in patients presenting to the ED with AD. Clinically, it implies that a ML model may classify low-risk patients to be discharged from the ED for further treatment under an ambulatory setting.