Diverticulosis is highly prevalent among older individuals in western society, affecting over 60
percent of people aged 70 and above. This poses a significant burden on the health care
system, with about 10-25 percent of them developing diverticulitis which is inflammation of the
diverticula. These patients will present with LLQ abdominal pain with nausea vomiting and
changes in their bowel movements. Diverticulitis can then lead to complications such as an
abscess formation, the presence of free air, or peritonitis. The article I found investigated the
clinical implications of extraluminal air in cases of Hinchey 1A diverticulitis, and whether or not
they presented with more severe episodes with or without extraluminal air. Using a monocentric
observational retrospective cohort study, CTs of patients who were diagnosed with
uncomplicated diverticulitis were reviewed from the years Jan 2005- December 20009. Also
taking into consideration their leukocyte counts, CRP value, and length of hospital stay. With
this info, the presence of extraluminal air was noted and compared to follow-up CTs on March
15, 2019. The CTs and statistical data were compared showing that the 56 patients with
extraluminal air had higher inflammatory markers upon admission, indicating a more severe
disease, length of hospital stay was significantly longer in this patient population, recurrence
rates did not seem to differ between the two populations and lastly, patients with extraluminal air
had the higher likelihood of emergency surgery(sigmoidectomy) during follow up, indicating an
unfavorable disease evolution. Indicating that patients who present with diverticulitis with
extraluminal air may require closer monitoring and inpatient management as the extraluminal air
is able to lead to more advanced stages of Hinchey Diverticulitis as the bacteria can proliferate
into the peritoneal cavity and liquid and stools are able to leak from the bowel.