Colonoscopy in Acute Diverticulitis
Colonoscopy in Acute Diverticulitis
Colonoscopy in Acute Diverticulitis
Question 1: Is there any indication to perform total An abdominal CT procedure identifying a triad of colonic di-
colonoscopy in acute diverticulitis, confirmed by verticulae, localized bowel wall thickening > 4 mm, and an increase
a positive abdominal ultrasound result and in soft tissue density within the adjacent abdominal fat is highly
accompanied by an elevated C-reactive protein sensitive (e.g. 94%) and specific (e.g. 99%) for acute colonic diver-
(CRP) value? Is it acceptable or even mandatory to ticulitis. This leads to an equally high negative predictive value (pV
perform colonoscopy when a patient does not neg) of 94% in a typical clinical 50/50 disease prevalence of acute
adequately respond to treatment? Do atypical diverticulitis versus other potential abdominal disease entities.
diagnostic imaging results in suspected diverticulitis Thus, in the absence of the above mentioned triad, or in atypical
justify colonoscopy? findings such as colonic masses, a diagnosis of acute diverticulitis
of clinical relevance would be quite unlikely. It is in these cases
Börsch: There is definitely no need for total colonoscopy in a with atypical imaging results that I would promptly and without
case of typical acute diverticulitis. Such a case would present with any reservations proceed to total colonoscopy after standard co-
ongoing left lower abdominal pain and wall tenderness of acute lonic preparation. This is justified by a very low endoscopic com-
onset, accompanied by some change of bowel habits, either consti- plication rate, especially endoscopic perforation rate, in acute co-
pation or diarrhea, and possibly by an increase of body tempera- lonic diverticulitis anyway (see question 2), all the more in a case
ture. In addition, there would be elevated inflammatory markers with highly unlikely acute diverticulitis. With negative or atypical
such as CRP, and also positive ultrasound findings of bowel wall CT findings, colonoscopy might reveal segmental bacterial or viral
thickening > 5 mm at the point of maximal tenderness, a hypo- colitis, non-occlusive colonic ischemia, Crohn’s disease, unclassi-
echoic reflection of an inflamed diverticulum, and a cap-like hy- fied colonic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), or even segmental
perechoic peridiverticular inflammatory reaction. In such a pa- diverticular colitis, each with quite different therapeutic strategies.
tient, treatment tailored to the clinical situation will be initiated
and monitored on clinical grounds. If the response to treatment is Dormann: Diagnosing diverticulitis usually requires not only
unsatisfactory, not colonoscopy but abdominal computed tomog- clinical but also laboratory test results and diagnostic imaging with
raphy (CT) will be the next diagnostic step, or even repeat CT, if sonography and abdominal CT, but not endoscopy [1]. The totality
this procedure has already been performed initially. In all likeli- of symptoms (pain), physical examination (left-sided lower ab-
hood, any inadequate response will rather be due to some extralu- dominal pain), and laboratory values (CRP increase > 50 mg/l) is
minal disease complication, which is not, or at least rarely, view- present in more than 90% of all cases of sigmoid diverticulitis [1].
able by the strictly luminal dimension of the endoscopic procedure The compression applied in sonography, which allows the exam-
and which may possibly even be dealt with by a subsequent CT- iner to distinguish between interposed fatty tissue and intestine,
guided intervention. can allow the detection of abdominal wall inflammation and con-
© 2015 S. Karger GmbH, Freiburg Prof. Dr. med. Dr. rer. biol. hum. Manfred Gross
1662–6664/15/0312–0124$39.50/0 Internistische Klinik Dr. Müller
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firm the diagnosis. When an abscess is suspected, a drain can be Question 2: What is your estimate of the risk of
placed immediately. Supplementary CT can detect especially extra- colonic perforation when total colonoscopy is
luminal structures (mainly air when perforation is suspected) and performed in acute diverticulitis?
is also to be used as a method providing objective evidence in com-
plicated procedures. Drainage of interposed abscesses can also be Börsch: It has to be kept in mind that, in principle, acute colonic
performed. Major diagnostic criteria in imaging procedures are diverticulitis is caused by micro- or macroscopic colonic diverticu-
wall thickening, pericolic blurring in the fatty tissue, and detection lar perforation. The clinical course is then determined by the speed,
of the inflamed diverticular area. The results can be improved by extent, and quality of the spontaneous biologic repair, or any lack
rectal contrast agent administration. The sensitivity and specificity thereof. Thus, the diagnosis of acute diverticulitis implies the pres-
for ultrasound alone are 92 and 90%, respectively, and thus are ence or recent occurrence of a micro- or macroscopic colonic per-
usually sufficient for diagnosis in uncomplicated clinical courses. foration. From this pathogenetic pathway, a very high complica-
The use of CT after inconclusive ultrasound findings can increase tion rate due to an increase of intraluminal pressure by colono-
the sensitivity and specificity to 94 and 99%, respectively [2, 3]. scopic air insufflation has been deduced and admonished in every
Magnetic resonance imaging is available as a more recent method. relevant textbook or atlas of endoscopy or colonoscopy. This, how-
The results are still unclear and the method should not be used for ever, has never been substantiated by sound scientific facts. In my
routine diagnosis [4]. Endoscopy is not indicated in the acute personal colonoscopic experience stretching over more than 40
phase [5]. This is based on the theory that a concealed perforation years, with far more than a thousand cases of colonoscopy in acute
can be converted to a free perforation by air insufflation; moreover, diverticulitis, the risk of colonoscopy-induced acute abdomen by
the examination is impeded by edema and possibly residual con- perforation is in the range of around 1/1,000. In a formal retro-
tamination. Colonoscopy is generally performed 4–6 weeks after spective analysis of 210 own cases with a final diagnosis of acute
the acute event to rule out malignancy. There is no increased risk colonic diverticulitis, of which 155 had been submitted to total co-
of malignancy developing after diverticulitis [1]. In therapy failure lonoscopy, 13 of whom (i.e. 8.4%) even had a small amount of peri-
or atypical imaging, endoscopic clarification should be performed luminal gas as detected by CT, a free perforation was not observed.
to rule out further differential diagnoses besides malignancy, in- There was only a single case in which a deterioration of the clinical
cluding other inflammatory etiology (viral, bacterial, IBD) or vas- course, though without acute abdomen, as due to a diagnostic co-
cular reasons (ischemic colitis). In these cases it is often helpful to lonoscopy, could not be completely excluded, even though a causal
perform only sigmoidoscopy and, if the findings are clear, to re- relationship was unlikely [7]. The group of Bar-Meir [8] found one
frain from high colonoscopy in the acute episode [1, 6]. Colon bar- free colonic perforation after colonoscopy in a group of 40 patients
ium enema, an often chosen alternative, should no longer be used investigated prospectively. In a second cohort of 39 patients lack-
for the diagnosis of diverticulitis because of the radiation exposure ing any accumulation of pericolonic gas, no complication was
[6]. observed.
Also, bland diverticulae by themselves do not show any propen-
Eckardt: Patients with a typical clinical presentation of divertic- sity to perforate during colonoscopy. Thus, the colonic perforation
ulitis, which is supported by clinical and laboratory findings, rate did not differ in patients with or without diverticulae [9]. Fi-
should not undergo unnecessary colonoscopy in the acute setting nally, when applying increasing intraluminal pressure thresholds
to avoid discomfort and the risk of perforation. However, in the by intracolonic air insufflation, the colonic serosa and mucosa will
setting of an atypical presentation, such as poor response to treat- tear open well before diverticulae will rupture [10].
ment, iron deficiency, or weight loss, careful sigmoidoscopy or co- In summary, the exact rate of free perforations after colonos-
lonoscopy should be performed, and alternative diagnoses should copy in acute diverticulitis is unknown. However, it is by all means
be sought [5]. much lower than generally anticipated. My personal estimate
places the rate between 1 and 5 per thousand procedures, maybe
Kiesslich: Colonoscopy during the acute phase of diverticulitis is slightly higher than the perforation rate of screening endoscopies,
not recommended by the experts. The diagnostic algorithm should thought to be somewhere between 0,1 and 1 per thousand.
include: patient with typical symptoms and laboratory findings –
abdominal ultrasound – CT scan of the abdomen. Colonoscopy Dormann: Colonoscopy makes it possible to determine the
should be performed 4–6 weeks after the acute phase. cause of abdominal complaints and is the suitable method for
lower gastrointestinal bleeding or to rule out a tumor. Besides de-
Miehlke: In the situation of a clinically established diagnosis of tecting diverticula, colonoscopy can be performed for differentia-
acute diverticulitis (typical ultrasound, elevated CRP), I do not see tion of mucosal inflammatory or polypoid lesions [6]. Colonos-
any need or benefit of a complete colonoscopy. If the diverticulitis copy is not required to diagnose acute diverticulitis.
does not resolve by conservative treatment, I would perform a CT Opinions diverge regarding the safety of colonoscopy in acute
scan to rule out perforation or abscess. If the CT scan is inconclu- illness. 1.9% of 54 diverticulitis patients suffered perforation from
sive or reveals any other unclear finding, I would proceed to colo- colonoscopy. The colonoscopies were early elective procedures
noscopy if the clinical condition of the patient allows doing so. done at between 4 and 12 days (median 5.8 days). The rate of com-
Miehlke: After the first episode of an acute diverticulitis I would Miehlke: This certainly depends on the severity of the endo-
definitely recommend a full colonoscopy 4–6 weeks later to deter- scopic manifestation. If the endoscopic findings are mild to moder-
mine the extension of diverticulosis and to rule out neoplastic le- ate and if there is no significant stenosis of the sigmoid lumen I
sions. I would also recommend a full colonoscopy after an acute would aim to perform complete colonoscopy. In all other cases I
diverticulitis in patients with established diverticulosis if the last would stop the procedure, initiate or continue conservative treat-
colonoscopy was done more than 3 years ago, especially if the qual- ment, and repeat colonoscopy after resolution of the acute episode.
ity of this procedure was unclear.
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