The Effects of Diverticulum Localization and Hinchey Classification on Recurrence and Complications in Acute Colonic Diverticulitis

OBJECTIVES: Diverticular disease of the colon is a pathology that arises from outward ballooning of the mucosa due to some weakness in the muscle layer. Diverticular disease may range from symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease to symptomatic disease with complications, such as acute diverticulitis or diverticular bleeding. Acute colonic diverticulitis occurs in about 10- 25% of patients. METHODS: In this study, 134 patients who were admitted to our emergency clinic with complaints of abdominal pain between 2016-2019 and hospitalized with the diagnosis of acute diverticulitis were included. Patients’ sex, age, presence of additional disease, increase in leukocyte and C-reactive protein (CRP), localization of diverticulitis, Hinchey classification, mean length of hospital stay and treatment were evaluated. The effects of these parameters on complications and recurrence were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The length of hospital stay was statistically significantly associated positively with the Hinchey classification (p<0.001). While 18 patients who were medically treated developed recurrence later, and this rate was statistically significant (p<0.001). When one of the factors, localization, which may play a role in the severity of the disease and recurrence are examined, was evaluated concerning its results in our study, we found that rectosigmoid location is an important factor for recurrence. We found that the localization in the colon and the severity of the disease were effective in the prognosis of acute diverticulitis. CONCLUSION: We believe that localization and the severity of the disease should be taken into consideration when planning surgery in these patients.