Clinical outcome for management of colonic diverticulitis: characteristics and surgical factor based on two institution data at South Korea

Purpose The aim of this study was to analyze clinical outcomes after surgical and/or conservative management of patients with colonic diverticulitis. Material and methods Between January 2001 and November 2018, data for 1175 patients (right (Rt.) side: n = 1037, left (Lt.) side: n = 138) who underwent conservative management ( n = 987) and surgical management ( n = 188) for colonic diverticulitis were retrieved from a retrospective database. The Rt. sided was defined up to the proximal two-thirds of the transverse colon and Lt. sided was defined from the distal one-third of the transverse colon. Results The overall incidence of colonic diverticulitis is gradually increasing. The mean age of all patients was 43.2 ± 17 and was significantly higher in patients with Lt.-sided (57.0 ± 15.7) than with Rt.-sided (41.4 ± 13.4) diverticulitis ( p = 0.001). The most common lesion site was cecum (71.7%, n = 843). First-time attacks were the most common (91.0%, n = 1069). The surgical rate was 12.2% on the right. sided and 44.9% on the left sided ( p < 0.005). The mean age, age distribution, BMI, open surgery rate, stoma formation rate, and Hinchey types III and IV rate were significantly higher in Lt. sided than in Rt. sided ( p < 0.005). Older age, higher BMI (≥ 25), and Hinchey types III and IV were significantly associated with surgical risk factors of diverticulitis ( p < 0.005). Conclusion Base on present study, Lt.-sided colonic diverticulitis tends to be more severe than Rt. sided, and surgery is more often required. In addition, colonic diverticulitis that requires surgery seems to be older and more obese on Lt. sided.