Acute diverticulitis recurrence more likely with barium enema

(HealthDay)—For patients with acute diverticulitis, recurrence is more likely among those undergoing barium enema, according to a study published online Aug. 30 in the Journal of Digestive Diseases.

Francisco J. Medina-Fernández, M.D., from Reina Sofia University Hospital in Spain, and colleagues conducted a retrospective follow-up study of patients with and without barium enema after their first episode of acute diverticulitis. Three hundred forty-nine patients were included: 141 in the barium enema group and 208 in the control group.

The researchers found that 20.6 percent of patients suffered recurrence of acute diverticulitis, which occurred more often in the barium enema group (27.7 versus 15.9 percent; P = 0.008). The likelihood of having a higher Hinchey grade at recurrence than at the index presentation was increased for patients who had undergone barium enema (30.8 versus 9.1 percent; P = 0.024). A nonstatistically significant trend toward a higher probability of acute diverticulitis recurrence along time was seen for age less than 50 years, female gender, absence of treatment with rifaximin, and barium enema.

"Patients who undergo barium enema may more likely present a higher Hinchey grade at recurrence than observed in the index presentation," the authors write.