Does localization change management in complicated right and left-sided diverticulitis?

Distribution of the colonic diverticula differs in different populations, and right-sided colon diverticulitis (RCD) and left-sided colon diverticulitis (LCD) manifest distinct clinical features. Complicated diverticulitis (CD) mostly requires hospitalization and can be treated within a spectrum from observation to surgery. Treatment choice is formed depending on the patient's general condition, the presence of diffuse peritonitis, the localization of diverticulitis, Hinchey stage, and responsiveness to the prior treatment. Clinical disparities regarding right and LCD also led to the differences in the incidences of both emergency surgery and future elective surgery.

To evaluate the clinical features of CD, display the differences according to colonic localizations, and present treatment approaches.

This was a retrospective study from a single centre analysing data from a prospective database. The 253 patients with history of hospitalization for CD were included and divided into two groups: RCD and LCD. To compare the differences between the two groups, the Student's t-test was used when the parametric test prerequisites were fulfilled, and the Mann-Whitney U test was used when such requirements were not fulfilled.

The 208 (82.2%) patients were found to have LCD, and 45 (17.8%) had RCD. The majority of the patients had Hinchey 1A diverticulitis (49.8%). Male gender was significantly more common in patients who underwent surgery for LCD. While persistent abdominal pain was the main prior finding in the conservative treatment of both localizations, surgery was most performed due to abscess in RCD and perforation in LCD. The presence of an accompanying malignancy during colonoscopy was significantly more common in LCD cases who underwent surgery. Hartmann's procedure was the most performed technique in emergency settings (56.3%), while laparoscopic colectomy with anastomosis was in elective settings (53.9%). In addition, surgery was found to prolong the mean length of hospital stay in LCD patients.

Although diverticulitis is a benign condition, the need for an individualized and evidence-based approach makes management challenging. Localization of the disease has an important role in determining the appropriate treatment.