Diverticulitis
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Basics
Description
- Micro- or macroscopic perforation of diverticulum:
- Uncomplicated (75%) vs. complicated (25%)
- Increased incidence:
- Increased diverticular disease = increased diverticulitis
- Increased incidence attributed to increased prevalence of western diet
Etiology
- Fecal material in diverticulum hardens, forming fecalith, increasing intraluminal pressure
- Erosion of diverticular wall leads to inflammation and bacteria translocation
- Focal necrosis leads to perforation
- Microperforation: Uncomplicated diverticulitis:
- Colonic wall thickening
- Inflammatory changes (fat stranding on CT)
- Macroperforation: Complicated diverticulitis:
- Abscess
- Bowel obstruction
- Fistulas after recurrent attacks
- Colovesical fistula (most common) presents with dysuria, frequency, urgency, pneumaturia, and fecaluria
- Peritonitis
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Basics
Description
- Micro- or macroscopic perforation of diverticulum:
- Uncomplicated (75%) vs. complicated (25%)
- Increased incidence:
- Increased diverticular disease = increased diverticulitis
- Increased incidence attributed to increased prevalence of western diet
Etiology
- Fecal material in diverticulum hardens, forming fecalith, increasing intraluminal pressure
- Erosion of diverticular wall leads to inflammation and bacteria translocation
- Focal necrosis leads to perforation
- Microperforation: Uncomplicated diverticulitis:
- Colonic wall thickening
- Inflammatory changes (fat stranding on CT)
- Macroperforation: Complicated diverticulitis:
- Abscess
- Bowel obstruction
- Fistulas after recurrent attacks
- Colovesical fistula (most common) presents with dysuria, frequency, urgency, pneumaturia, and fecaluria
- Peritonitis
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