E. Yeung1, N. Tellios1, R. Choe1, N. McGrath1, C. Wung1, R. Behm1 1Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital, Trauma Surgery, SAYRE, PA, USA
Introduction: Readmissions due to complications of diverticulitis are associated with significantly increased cost and morbidity. This study aims to evaluate the clinical outcomes for oral antibiotics on patients with uncomplicated diverticulitis.
Methods: A retrospective chart review was done on patients admitted to our Emergency General Surgery (EGS) service following initial admission of uncomplicated diverticulitis and discharged with oral antibiotics from 2015 to 2019. Patient demographics and clinical characteristics were studied and followed. The primary outcome was the readmission rate within 30 days after being discharged with oral antibiotics.
Results: A total of 291 patients were admitted to the Emergency General Surgery (EGS) service for diverticulitis over the 5-year period; 83 patients were being treated with conservative management and discharged with antibiotics without surgical intervention. 33 males and 50 females were included with mean BMI 30.95 and 34.58 respectively. The mean length of stay was 3 days. There were 8 patients (9.6%) that had either an ED or clinic visit within 30 days of discharge with oral antibiotics. None of these visits (0%) were related to complications of diverticulitis.
Conclusion: Readmission due to complications of diverticulitis is associated with significantly increased cost and morbidity. The use of oral antibiotics in uncomplicated diverticulitis has an excellent clinical outcome with no readmission within 30 days after discharge, indicating that oral outpatient antibiotic therapy is a safe and effective management in uncomplicated diverticulitis.
