Diverticulitis of the colon. Clinical review of acute presentations and management.

A series of 46 patients treated surgically for acute sequelae of diverticular disease of the colon was reviewed. Perforation of sigmoid diverticulitis and colon obstruction were the most common indications for surgical treatment. Resection of the involved colon was carried out in 44 of 46 patients. Primary resection was performed in 27 patients and primary anastomosis was achieved in 19 of these. Staged resections were employed in 17 patients. The mortality rate was 4.4 percent and the complication rate 28.3 percent. Some suggestions are made in an effort to decrease morbidity in the future.