Acute Diverticulitis of the Caecum and Right Colon

Abstract

The clinical presentation, diagnosis, mode of treatment and surgical pathology of acute diverticulitis of the caecum and right colon is reviewed in 22 patients. The clinical signs, biochemical and blood analysis in patients with caecal diverticulitis were indistinguishable from those of a control group with acute appendicitis. However, the duration of symptoms and average age of the former were significantly longer and higher than in the latter group. A definite intra-operative diagnosis was achieved in 11 patients (50%), who subsequently underwent either a limited resection or appendectomy only, while in the other patients without an intra-operative diagnosis right hemicolectomy was performed. The operative mortality rate was 9.1 %. Histological examination of the operative specimens revealed a solitary diverticulum in 8 patients, multiple diverticulae in 6 patients and caecal ulcers in 6 patients. All the diverticulae belonged to the false type.