Abscess of the anterior abdominal wall as a consequence of perforated sigmoid colon diverticulitis, without peritonitis: a rare manifestation of complicated diverticulitis – a case report with a literature review.

Autori:

Ana Dimova, Janja Konjevod, Stefan Dimov, Dora Fureš, Jelena Radaković

Sažetak
Komplicirani divertikulitis i dalje je relativno česta hitna kirurška situacija u Hrvatskoj. Iako u ranim fazama komplicirani divertikulitis može imati koristi od konzervativnog liječenja, veliki apscesi te difuzni gnojni ili fekalni peritonitis obično zahtijevaju resekciju kolona. U zapadnim zemljama takvi scenariji najčešće uključuju resekciju sigmoidnog kolona, s formiranjem terminalne kolostome ili bez nje. Izvještavamo o rijetkoj prezentaciji kompliciranoga sigmoidnog divertikulitisa koja se manifestirala kao apsces trbušnog zida bez znakova peritonitisa kod šezdesetogodišnje žene sa značajnom medicinskom anamnezom, uključujući dijabetes tipa 2, hipertenziju, dislipidemiju, izrazitu pretilost i prethodnu laparotomiju zbog kompliciranog divertikulitisa. Pacijentica se javila s lokaliziranom boli u donjem dijelu abdomena, eritemom i osjetljivošću koja je upućivala na celulitis, uz povišeni CRP, ali normalan broj leukocita. CT abdomena pokazao je veliku gnojnu kolekciju u donjem trbušnom zidu, što je upućivalo na ograničenu perforaciju. Hitnim kirurškim zahvatom potvrđena je čvrsta priraslica sigmoidnog kolona uz trbušni zid te velika šupljina apscesa ispunjena fekalnim sadržajem. Nije bilo znakova slobodne tekućine niti peritonitisa u trbušnoj šupljini. Izvedena je Hartmannova operacija, koja je uključivala resekciju oboljelog dijela kolona i formiranje kolostome. Postoperativni oporavak isprva je bio povoljan, ali je kompliciran retrakcijom kolostome zbog pretilosti pacijentice. Revizijska operacija uspješno je izvedena jedanestog dana, čime je obnovljen kontinuitet crijeva. Za ovu opciju odlučili smo se zbog izostanka peritonitisa. Daljnji oporavak protekao je bez komplikacija, uz potpuno povlačenje celulitisa trbušnog zida i drenaže. Ovaj slučaj opisuje neuobičajeni put perforacije kod divertikulitisa koji je doveo do apscesa trbušnog zida bez intraabdominalne kontaminacije i naglašava važnost individualiziranoga kirurškog pristupa kod složenih recidiva.
Summary

Complicated diverticulitis remains a relatively commonly encountered surgical emergency in Croatia. Eventhough early stages of complicated diverticulitis can benefit from a conservative management, large abscesses, diffuse purulent or stercoral peritonitis usually require colonic resection. In Western countries, such scenarios commonly involve sigmoid colon resection with or without end colostomy formation. We report a rare presentation of complicated sigmoid diverticulitis manifesting as an abdominal wall abscess without signs of peritonitis in a 60-year-old female, with a significant medical history including type 2 diabetes, hypertension,
dyslipidemia, extreme obesity, and prior laparotomy for complicated diverticulitis. The patient presented with localized lower abdominal pain, erythema, and tenderness consistent with cellulitis, alongside elevated CRP but normal white cell count. Imaging via CT scan revealed a large purulent collection in the lower abdominal wall, suggesting a contained perforation. Emergency surgical exploration confirmed a firm adhesion of the sigmoid colon to the abdominal wall and a large abscess cavity containing feculent material. There was no sign of free fluid or peritonitis in the abdominal cavity. Hartmann’s procedure was performed, including resection of the diseased colon and formation of a colostomy. Postoperative recovery was initially favorable but complicated by colostomy retraction due to the patient’s obesity. A revision surgery was successfully performed on day 11, restoring bowel
continuity. We opted for the latter due to the absence of peritonitis. Further recovery was uneventful, with a complete resolution of the abdominal wall cellulitis and drainage. This case reports of an unusual route of perforation in diverticulitis leading to an abdominal wall abscess without intraabdominal contamination and highlights the importance of individualized surgical planning in complex recurrences.