Disease Course of Right- and Left-sided Diverticulitis in a Western Population

Aim: To evaluate the similarities and differences in disease courses between right- and left-sided diverticulitis in a Western population. Methods: All consecutive patients admitted in a Dutch regional hospital between 2004 and 2008 for conservative or operative management of clinically and radiologically confirmed acute right- and left-sided diverticulitis were analyzed retrospectively. Diverticulitis was clinically suspect if the patient presented with lower abdominal pain combined with at least one elevated inflammatory parameter (temperature, WBC, CRP or ESR). Diverticulitis was radiologically confirmed if at least US or CT demonstrated signs of acute right- or left-sided diverticulitis. Differences in incidence, patient characteristics, clinical presentation and disease course between the two diagnoses were analyzed. Results: The hospital system yielded 425 patients with a diverticulosis/diverticulitis discharge coding. 57% was excluded because these patients had another diagnosis demonstrated by imaging, besides diverticulosis (19%), had no imaging at all (16%), were elective or referred (7%), were not admitted (4%) or had other reasons (11%). A total of 183 admitted patients with both clinical and radiological confirmed acute colonic diverticulitis were included. The incidence of right-sided diverticulitis was 8%. Patients with right-sided diverticulitis were predominantly female (86% compared to 47% in leftsided diverticulitis, P = 0.05). Median CRP at presentation was lower in right sided diverticulitis, 30 compared to 71 mg/L (P = 0.001). No other differences in clinical presentation, like the severity of diverticulitis, and disease course, like the need for acute surgery, were found between right and left-sided diverticulitis. Conclusions: Disease course of acute right-sided diverticulitis in Caucasians is comparable to left-sided diverticulitis. Left-sided diverticulitis treatment guidelines may also apply for the right-sided diverticulitis in Caucasians.