대한대장항문학회

Purpose : This study was undertaken to obtain better clinical insights and therapeutic<br>approaches to the diverticular diseases of the colon by identifying the clinical characteristics<br>of the right and left colonic diverticular diseases. Methods : A retrospective analysis was<br>made of 68 colonic diverticular patients treated between August of 1986 and July of 1997.<br>Right colonic diverticular disease was present in 55 patients, left side disease in eight<br>patients, and bilateral disease in five patients. According to the location of the colonic<br>diverticular disease, various clinical parameters such as the nature of the diverticula, age and<br>sex, diagnostic accuracy, and methods of treatment were assessed. Results : The average age<br>of 68 patients in this study was 50.94 years. Fifty two patients were male and sixteen were<br>female. The disease was far more common in the right colon (80.9%) than the left colon<br>(11.7%) and the right colonic diverticular disease was the most common source of confusion<br>in diagnosis from acute appendicitis. Conservative management was tried in 30 of 35 patients<br>above age 50 and obtained a good result without any complication. Conclusions : There has<br>been a tendency toward increased incidence of annual colonic diverticular diseases in this<br>study. The right colonic diverticular disease was far more common than the left side disease<br>and the disease was more common in the male. In patients above age 50, initial conservative<br>management is a reasonable approach, although early surgical exploration might be better in<br>younger patients. Acute appendicitis should be ruled out before any treatment decision was<br>made.<br>