Is It So Hard To Predict Complicated Diverticulitis?

Objective: Acute diverticulitis (AD) is a frequent cause of abdominal pain leading to emergency department visits. Many biomarkers have been identified to predict the risk of developing complicated diverticulitis. In our study, we aimed to reveal the sensitivity of these biomarkers in order to better differentiate uncomplicated AD from complicated ones.

Methods: 101 patients who were diagnosed with AD in the emergency outpatient clinic between 2018 and 2022, registered in the database of our hospital, were evaluated retrospectively. Demographic data of the patients and laboratory results at the time of admission were evaluated. Patients were classified as having non-complicated (Group I) or complicated diverticulitis (Group II) based on the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES) criteria. Laboratory values at admission, including albumin, white blood cell count (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), neutrophil count, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), were evaluated.

101 patients who were diagnosed with AD in the emergency outpatient clinic between 2018 and 2022, registered in the database of our hospital, were evaluated retrospectively. Demographic data of the patients and laboratory results at the time of admission were evaluated. Patients were classified as having non-complicated (Group I) or complicated diverticulitis (Group II) based on the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES) criteria. Laboratory values at admission, including albumin, white blood cell count (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), neutrophil count, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), were evaluated.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Admission to the Haydarpaşa Numune Training and Research Hospital General Surgery Clinic
• First episode of acute diverticulitis
• Diagnosis confirmed by contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography (CT)
• Admission between 2018 and 2022
• Retrospective identification from the hospital registry system

Exclusion Criteria:

• Recurrent episodes of diverticulitis
• History of prior colorectal surgery
• Symptom duration longer than 7 days before admission
• Inconsistent physical examination findings with laboratory or imaging results
• Age under 18 years
• Pathologically confirmed malignancy

101 patients who were admitted to the Haydarpaşa Numune Training and Research Hospital General Surgery Clinic with the diagnosis of first acute diverticulitis attack between the years 2018-2022 were chosen.