Natural History of Sigmoid Diverticulitis: The Geneva Cohort Study
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Sponsor
- University Hospital, Geneva
- Enrollment
- 500
- Locations
- 1
Study Overview
Brief Summary
Aim: This is a longitudinal cohort study to assess long-term clinical outcome of patients who were admitted in our institution for a first episode of uncomplicated sigmoid diverticulitis.
Methods: All patients who were diagnosed with a first episode of sigmoid diverticulitis will be evaluated for inclusion in the study, pending informed consent. Those patients who have evidence of complicated diverticulitis (fistula, abscess) will receive a recommendation to undergo elective sigmoid resection, while those who have a simple attack will be recruited in the cohort. Follow-up will be performed at yearly intervals through telephone interview with the patient. The duration of study is expected to last 10 years (2010-2020), with >50 new patients/year, for a total of >500 patients.
Endpoints:
- the occurrence of a second episode of diverticulitis
- severity and outcome of recurrent diverticulitis
- evolution in digestive symptoms and quality of life (QoL)
- need for subsequent elective or emergency sigmoid resection
Rationale: This study will help in determining the risk/benefit of the current approach for this common condition, which is to manage patients conservatively with antibiotics and adopt a wait-and-see attitude. Specifically, the following events will be assessed quantitatively:
- the rate of relapse in an urban community.
- the burden of this common disease on QoL and digestive function
- the percentage of patients who may need emergency surgery
Detailed Description
Colonic diverticulosis is an increasingly common condition in the Western societies; in our country, a third of the population is affected by the 6th decade and two-thirds by the 9th decade. Fortunately, a majority of patients with diverticulosis remain asymptomatic; diverticulitis, the most common presentation of diverticular disease, has an estimated incidence of 10 patients per 100,000/year.
The diagnosis of sigmoid diverticulitis is usually suspected clinically in a patient presenting with acute lower abdominal pain, associated with an inflammatory syndrome with elevated CRP and/or leukocytes count. The preferred imaging modality to establish definitive diagnosis is computerized tomography (CT) scan with triple (oral, intravenous and intra-rectal) administration of contrast. CT scan may also influence management by demonstrating whether sigmoid diverticulitis is simple (phlegmonous, showing an infiltration of pericolic fat and a thickening of intestinal wall) or complicated (abscess, fistula or peritonitis).
A majority of patients present with simple diverticulitis, and will be conservatively and successfully managed with antibiotics alone. Full colonoscopy is performed eventually, in order to rule out an associated condition, most notably cancer and Crohn's disease. Colonic diverticular disease is usually restricted to the sigmoid colon, and conservative treatment with antibiotics is indicated in cases of a first attack of uncomplicated diverticulitis, the rationale being that a majority of patients treated for a first episode of acute inflammation will eventually recover and have no further problems.
Elective sigmoidectomy is currently recommended in the following clinical situations:
- Patients who had two episodes of uncomplicated diverticulitis.
- Patients who had one episode of complicated (perforated) diverticulitis, with either pericolic of pelvic abscesses (Hinchey stage I and II respectively), fistula formation and/or stenosis.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Observational
- Observational Model
- Cohort
- Time Perspective
- Prospective
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to 80 Years (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria
- Not provided
Exclusion Criteria
- Not provided