Diverticulitis continues to be one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases in both the inpatient and outpatient setting, with nearly 3 million Americans diagnosed with the condition each year.
Despite the expansive occurrence of this disease, the treatment and prevention of diverticulitis lacks standardization, a topic that will be addressed in PS101: Diverticulitis: The Widening Gap Between Data and Practice, on Monday at 9:45 am, in Ballroom East.
“There is a lot of discussion and controversy around the management of diverticulitis and how it is treated in the US and what is being done in Europe,” said session moderator Alessandro Fichera, MD, FACS, FASCRS, division chief of colon and rectal surgery at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. “Both sides of the debate have important data to support what they are doing.”
Non-antibiotic management of uncomplicated diverticulitis—a treatment option used in Europe—is a key topic that will be covered during the session.
“The data are strong enough that several of my colleagues and friends in Europe are proponents of not using antibiotics for these patients,” Dr. Fichera said. “I have not been particularly successful in managing diverticulitis without antibiotics, and the reasons could be multifactorial,” he said, pointing to genetic predisposition and other considerations.
Bridging the gap between data and practice starts with staying informed on current research, said Dr. Fichera, referring to the session’s title.
“Be aware of the data—and the data to me are pretty clear in showing that patient selection is key in everything we do, but especially for diverticulitis,” he said, adding that factors such as the age of the patient, if they are hemodynamically stable, and if they are immunocompromised are important considerations. “You still need to use your judgment and engage in individualized treatment rather than a one-size-fits-all all approach. Know the literature and know the patient in front of you.”
This session is intended for general, gastrointestinal, and acute care surgeons who treat diverticulitis. In addition to non-antibiotic management of uncomplicated diverticulitis, panelists will address the Hartmann’s procedure transitioning into a potential “last resort” approach, the treatment of diverticulitis in the immunocompromised patient, and racial disparity in the treatment of acute diverticulitis.
