Patients with findings suggestive of a perforated diverticulitis may be subject to colostomy with the attendant morbidity and quality-of-life concerns. Recent literature demonstrates decreased use of laparotomy and colostomy when diagnostic laparoscopy reveals absence of fecal peritonitis. Ten patients presenting with diverticulitis between May 2009 and February 2012 underwent diagnostic laparoscopy. The indication for surgery in nine patients was failure of medical management with or without percutaneous drainage and one had significant pneumoperitoneum at presentation. A comprehensive algorithm was subsequently developed governing medical and surgical management of diverticulitis including the use of diagnostic laparoscopy and laparoscopic peritoneal lavage for patients with Hinchey Stage 3 diverticulitis or abscess formation not amenable to percutaneous drainage. Eight patients underwent diagnostic laparoscopy and laparoscopic peritoneal lavage, whereas two patients underwent diagnostic laparoscopy with conversion to open procedures (low-anterior resection with diverting ileostomy and Hartmann's procedure). Mortality was 0 per cent. Four patients were subsequently readmitted for relapse or recurrence. Two required laparotomy at the time of readmission, ultimately receiving a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma. Two were managed medically and later underwent elective laparoscopic sigmoid colon resection. Diagnostic laparoscopy and laparoscopy peritoneal lavage appear feasible and safe and may be an alternative to more invasive surgery, avoiding laparotomy and colostomy and staging patients for elective laparoscopic resection. Based on our institutional experience, we propose a novel algorithm for the treatment of hospitalized patients with diverticulitis, which incorporates diagnostic laparoscopy and laparoscopic peritoneal lavage while emphasizing patient selection based on clinical examination and imaging.

Gallbladder volvulus is a rare condition involving the rotation of the gallbladder about the cystic duct and vascular pedicle, compromising biliary drainage and blood flow. This report describes a case of gallbladder volvulus presenting in an 88-year-old female with acute onset of right upper quadrant abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Complete work-up included a physical exam, laboratory studies, and computed tomography (CT), which was notable for a markedly distended gallbladder with circumferential wall thickening, pericholecystic fluid, a 12 mm common bile duct, and a hiatal hernia. Given that her initial presentation was consistent with acute cholecystitis, we elected to perform laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The definitive diagnosis of gallbladder volvulus was made intraoperatively after decompression of the gallbladder and visualization of counterclockwise rotation of the gallbladder around the hilum and the infundibulum. This case illustrates the challenge in preoperative diagnosis of gallbladder volvulus, which requires high clinical suspicion to provide prompt surgical intervention.