Author: Kishan Indrakumar, Thomas Moore / Editor: Tim Osborne / Codes: / Published: 01/10/2025
A 60-year-old man presents to the Emergency Department (ED) with a 2-day history of constant left lower quadrant abdominal pain, loose stools, and low-grade fever.
He reports reduced appetite but denies vomiting or urinary symptoms. He has a known history of diverticular disease, confirmed on pervious colonoscopy.
Observations:
- Temperature: 37.7 C
- Heart rate: 90 bpm
- Blood pressure: 125/75 mmHg
- Respiratory rate: 18
- Glasgow Coma Scale: 15/15
On examination, he is tender in the left lower quadrant but has no signs of peritonism. Blood tests show a C-reactive protein of 45 mg/L. He has no relevant comorbidities and is functionally independent.
