Structured Abstract

Contents

• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Key Informants
• Technical Expert Panel
• Peer Reviewers
• Evidence Summary
  • Main Points
  • Background and Purpose
  • Methods
  • Results
  • Limitations
  • Implications and Conclusions
• Introduction
  • Background
  • Purpose of the Review
• Methods
  • Review Approach
  • Study Selection
  • Risk of Bias Assessment
  • Data Synthesis and Analysis
  • Grading the Strength of the Body of Evidence
• Results
  • Overview of the Evidence Base Addressing All Key Questions
  • Key Question 1. Computed Tomography
  • Key Question 2. Medical Management of Acute Diverticulitis
  • Key Question 3. Colonoscopy After Acute Diverticulitis
  • Key Question 4. Interventions To Prevent Recurrence
• Discussion
  • Findings in Relation to the Decisional Dilemma(s)
  • Strengths and Limitations
  • Applicability
  • Implications for Clinical Practice, Education, Research, or Health Policy
  • Future Research
  • Conclusions
• References
• Appendixes
  • Appendix A. Methods
  • Appendix B. Excluded Articles
  • Appendix C. Search Results; Study Design, Arm Details, Baselines, and Quality
  • Appendix D. Full Results

Suggested citation:

Balk EM, Adam GP, Cao W, Danko K, Bhuma MR, Mehta S, Saldanha IJ, Beland MD, Shah N. Management of Colonic Diverticulitis. Comparative Effectiveness Review No. 233. (Prepared by the Brown Evidence-based Practice Center under Contract No. 290-2015-00002-I.) AHRQ Publication No. 20(21)-EHC025. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; October 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.23970/AHRQEPCCER233. Posted final reports are located on the Effective Health Care Program search page.

This report is based on research conducted by the Brown Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) under contract to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Rockville, MD (Contract No. 290-2015-00002-I). The findings and conclusions in this document are those of the authors, who are responsible for its contents; the findings and conclusions do not necessarily represent the views of AHRQ. Therefore, no statement in this report should be construed as an official position of AHRQ or of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

None of the investigators have any affiliations or financial involvement that conflicts with the material presented in this report.

The information in this report is intended to help healthcare decision makers—patients and clinicians, health system leaders, and policymakers, among others—make well-informed decisions and thereby improve the quality of healthcare services. This report is not intended to be a substitute for the application of clinical judgment. Anyone who makes decisions concerning the provision of clinical care should consider this report in the same way as any medical reference and in conjunction with all other pertinent information, i.e., in the context of available resources and circumstances presented by individual patients.

This report is made available to the public under the terms of a licensing agreement between the author and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. This report may be used and reprinted without permission except those copyrighted materials that are clearly noted in the report. Further reproduction of those copyrighted materials is prohibited without the express permission of copyright holders.

AHRQ or U.S. Department of Health and Human Services endorsement of any derivative products that may be developed from this report, such as clinical practice guidelines, other quality enhancement tools, or reimbursement or coverage policies, may not be stated or implied.

AHRQ appreciates appropriate acknowledgment and citation of its work. Suggested language for acknowledgment: This work was based on an evidence report, Management of Colonic Diverticulitis, by the Evidence-based Practice Center Program at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).