[Complications of colonic diverticulosis and their treatment].

Diverticulosis coli is one of the commonest diseases of the colon. Its importance arises from complications. In the period of 1974-1981 a total of 661 cases of diverticulosis coli were treated at this clinic. In 75% of cases the diverticula were localized in the left colon. Differential diagnosis must aim to exclude the presence of other diseases, especially malignancies of the rectum and sigmoid colon. 165 patients (25%) underwent surgery. In elective surgery lethality was only 2,9%. The poor prognosis when complications have occurred supports the author's view, that operation should be done early in patients with chronic recurrent diverticulitis.