Abstract
PURPOSE: This study was designed to determine the natural history of documented diverticulitis that resolves after treatment with intravenous antibiotics and bowel rest in patients under the age of 50. METHODS: Records of 40 patients aged 50 or under who were hospitalized with the diagnosis of acute diverticulitis between 1980 and 1984 were reviewed to obtain data regarding how the diagnosis was made. Patients successfully treated with antibiotics were contacted five to nine years after their attack and surveyed via telephone questionnaire about symptoms, recurrent attacks, and surgical interventions. RESULTS: A total of 40 patients were included in the study. Ten patients (25 percent) required surgery during initial admission, and 30 patients were discharged with resolution of their symptoms after treatment with intravenous antibiotics and bowel rest. A five-year to nine-year follow-up was obtained on patients treated medically, one-third of whom underwent operation for diverticulitis during this period, and two-thirds of whom did not require surgery during the follow-up period. All operations were elective with single-stage resections. CONCLUSION: Based on our data, we do not recommend surgery in this population after a single episode of diverticulitis that resolves after treatment with antibiotics.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Rodkey G, Welch C. Changing patterns in the surgical treatment of diverticular disease. Ann Surg 1984;200:466–78.
Eusebio E, Isenberg M. Natural history of diverticular disease of the colon in young patients. Am J Surg 1973;125:308–11.
Ouriel K, Schwartz S. Diverticular disease in the young patient. Surg Gynecol Obstet 1983;156:1–5.
Hannan C, Knightly J, Coffey R. Diverticular disease of the colon in the young age group. Dis Colon Rectum 1961;4:419–23.
Freischleg J, Bennion R, Thompson J. Complications of diverticular disease of the colon in young people. Dis Colon Rectum 1986;29:639–43.
Kim U, Dreiling D. Problems in the diagnosis of diverticulitis in the young, Am J Gastroenterol 1974;62:109–15.
Simonowitz D, Paloyan D. Diverticular disease of the colon in patients under 40 years of age. Am J Gastroenterol 1977;67:69–72.
Parks TG. Natural history of diverticular disease of the colon. Clin Gastroenterol 1975;4:53–69.
Parks TG. Natural history of diverticular disease of the colon. BMJ 1969;4:639–45.
Colcock BP. Surgical management of diverticulitis. Surg Gynecol Obstet 1956;102:721–6.
Chodak G, Rangel D, Passaro E. Colonic diverticulitis in patients under age 40: need for earlier diagnosis. Am J Surg 1981;141:699–702.
Haglund U, Hallberg R, Johnsen C, Hulten L. Complicated diverticular disease of the sigmoid colon: analysis of short and long-term outcome in 392 patients. Ann Chir Gynaecol 1979;68:41–6.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Read at the meeting of The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, Boston, Massachusetts, May 12 to 17, 1991.
All work was performed at Hartford Hospital, Hartford, Connecticut.
About this article
Cite this article
Vignati, P.V., Welch, J.P. & Cohen, J.L. Long-term management of diverticulitis in young patients. Dis Colon Rectum 38, 627–629 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02054123
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02054123