Case Report
Copyright ©2008 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jun 14, 2008; 14(22): 3583-3586
Published online Jun 14, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.3583
Subclinical peritonitis due to perforated sigmoid diverticulitis 14 years after heart-lung transplantation
Haridimos Markogiannakis, Manousos Konstadoulakis, Dimitrios Tzertzemelis, Pantelis Antonakis, Ilias Gomatos, Constantinos Bramis, Andreas Manouras
Haridimos Markogiannakis, Manousos Konstadoulakis, Dimitrios Tzertzemelis, Pantelis Antonakis, Ilias Gomatos, Constantinos Bramis, Andreas Manouras, 1st Department of Propaedeutic Surgery, Hippokration Hospital, Athens Medical School, University of Athens, Vasilissis Sofias 114 Avenue, Athens 11527, Greece
Author contributions: Markogiannakis H, Tzertzemelis D, Antonakis P, Gomatos I, and Bramis C contributed to the conception and design of the paper and acquisition of data and literature research; Markogiannakis H, Konstadoulakis M, and Manouras A drafted, wrote and revised the manuscript critically for important intellectual content.
Correspondence to: Haridimos Markogiannakis, MD, 1st Department of Propaedeutic Surgery, Hippokration Hospital, Athens Medical School, University of Athens, Aristeidou 239 street, Kallithea, Athens 17673, Greece. hmarkogiannakis@mycosmos.gr
Telephone: +30-697-6788806
Fax: +30-210-7707574
Received: January 22, 2008
Revised: April 15, 2008
Accepted: April 22, 2008
Published online: June 14, 2008
Abstract

Acute complicated diverticulitis, particularly with colon perforation, is a rare but serious condition in transplant recipients with high morbidity and mortality. Neither acute diverticulitis nor colon perforation has been reported in young heart-lung grafted patients. A case of subclinical peritonitis due to perforated acute sigmoid diverticulitis 14 years after heart-lung transplantation is reported. A 26-year-old woman, who received heart-lung transplantation 14 years ago, presented with vague abdominal pain. Physical examination was normal. Blood tests revealed leukocytosis. Abdominal X-ray showed air-fluid levels while CT demonstrated peritonitis due to perforated sigmoid diverticulitis. Sigmoidectomy and end-colostomy (Hartmann’s procedure) were performed. Histopathology confirmed perforated acute sigmoid diverticulitis. The patient was discharged on the 8th postoperative day after an uneventful postoperative course. This is the first report of acute diverticulitis resulting in colon perforation in a young heart-lung transplanted patient. Clinical presentation, even in peritonitis, may be atypical due to the masking effects of immunosuppression. A high index of suspicion, urgent aggressive diagnostic investigation of even vague abdominal symptoms, adjustment of immunosuppression, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and immediate surgical treatment are critical. Moreover, strategies to reduce the risk of this complication should be implemented. Pretransplantation colon screening, prophylactic pretransplantation sigmoid resection in patients with diverticulosis, and elective surgical intervention in patients with nonoperatively treated acute diverticulitis after transplantation deserve consideration and further studies.

Keywords: Heart-lung transplantation; Acute diverticulitis; Colon perforation; Subclinical peritonitis