title: Early discharge policy of patients with acute colonic diverticulitis following initial CT scan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diverticulitis develops in 15-20% of individuals with diverticulosis. Severity ranges from mild to severe. Mild diverticulitis is uncomplicated confined per colonic inflammation commonly treated conservatively. Recent literature suggests it could be managed in an outpatient setup.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine if patients with mild acute colonic diverticulitis (ACD) on early CT scan can be treated and discharged at an early time.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of patient's charts admitted during 2005 with ACD confirmed by CT scan performed within 24 h of admission. Severity of ACD was determined according to CT classification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-two (31 women, 11 men) patients included, mean age 66 years, CT severity classification: 61.9% mild, 7.1% moderate, and 31.0% severe diverticulitis. Patients with mild ACD were discharged safely, had no recurrence of their symptoms, and needed no readmission within 6 months of follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with mild ACD on CT scan performed within 24 h could be safely discharged and treated according to protocols of outpatient management of diverticulitis.
authors.affiliation: Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Co. Louth, Ireland. Usama_sahaf70@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Osama
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Al-Sahaf
authors.forename: Dhafir
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Al-Azawi
authors.forename: Muhammad Z
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Fauzi
authors.forename: Sherif
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: El-Masry
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gillen
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003113:Colonoscopy; D004239:Diverticulitis, Colonic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents