2021 Volume 74 Issue 8 Pages 447-452
Objective: To retrospectively review the treatment of patients with colonic diverticular bleeding in our institution, and to evaluate clinical characteristics of patients who underwent surgical treatment.
Methods: A total of 194 patients with colonic diverticular bleeding from January 2010 to April 2020 were enrolled in this study.
Results: Seven (4%) patients underwent surgical treatment. Of these, five had endoscopic treatment followed by surgery, and two had endoscopic and interventional radiology treatment followed by surgery. All patients required blood transfusions to treat hemodynamic shock. Bleeding was in the ascending colon and right hemicolectomy was performed in all patients. One female developed re-bleeding post-operatively three times every three years, and was treated non-operatively. She had multiple diverticula in both the right and left colons, and was taking anticoagulants.
Conclusion: Patients with colonic diverticular bleeding were treated according to the treatment guidelines. Although some patients were in poor condition, their post-operative course was uneventful. While subtotal colectomy is recommended for patients whose bleeding source is unknown in the guidelines, treatment decisions including the range of excision must be made individually depending on the patient's condition (age, activities and comorbidities).
