Diverticular disease. Current trends in therapy.

Colonic diverticulosis is a common problem in the United States, apparently related to low dietary intake of fiber. Diverticula may bleed or cause local infection or perforation. When antibiotic treatment of infection fails, surgical intervention is necessary. Currently, the most common procedures are primary resection and anastomosis for limited disease and a two-stage Hartmann procedure for severe disease or abscess. If the fiber hypothesis of diverticular formation is correct, then addition of fiber to the diet should prevent diverticular disease.