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Long-Term Outcome of Mesocolic and Pelvic Diverticular Abscesses of the Left Colon: A Prospective Study of 73 Cases

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Diseases of the Colon & Rectum

PURPOSE

The aim of of this study was to evaluate prospectively the long-term outcome of mesocolic and pelvic diverticular abscesses of the left colon.

METHODS

Between October 1986 and October 1997, a total of 465 patients urgently admitted to our hospital with a suspected diagnosis of acute left-sided colonic diverticulitis had a CT scan. Of 76 patients (17 percent) who had an associated mesocolic or pelvic abscess, 3 were lost to follow-up. The remaining 73 patients (45 with a mesocolic abscess and 28 with a pelvic abscess) were followed for a median of 43 months.

RESULTS

of the 45 patients with a mesocolic abscess, 7 (15 percent) required surgery during their first hospitalization versus 11 (39 percent) of the 28 patients with a pelvic abscess (P = 0.04). At the end of follow-up, 22 (58 percent) of the 38 patients with a mesocolic abscess who had successful conservative treatment during their first hospitalization did not need surgical treatment vs. 8 (47 percent) of the 17 who had a pelvic abscess. Altogether, 51 percent of the patients with a mesocolic abscess had surgical treatment versus 71 percent of those with a pelvic abscess (P = 0.09).

CONCLUSIONS

Considering the poor outcome of pelvic abscess associated with acute left-sided colonic diverticulitis, percutaneous drainage followed by secondary colectomy seems justified. Mesocolic abscess by itself is not an absolute indication for colectomy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinic of Digestive Surgery, University Hospital of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

    Patrick Ambrosetti M.D., Roland Chautems M.D. & Claudio Soravia M.D.

  2. Department of Radiology, University Hospital of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

    Nyali Peiris-Waser M.D. & François Terrier M.D.

Authors
  1. Patrick Ambrosetti M.D.
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  2. Roland Chautems M.D.
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  3. Claudio Soravia M.D.
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  4. Nyali Peiris-Waser M.D.
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  5. François Terrier M.D.
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Correspondence to Patrick Ambrosetti M.D..

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Ambrosetti, P., Chautems, R., Soravia, C. et al. Long-Term Outcome of Mesocolic and Pelvic Diverticular Abscesses of the Left Colon: A Prospective Study of 73 Cases. Dis Colon Rectum 48, 787–791 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10350-004-0853-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10350-004-0853-z

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