Results of colectomy for diverticular disease of the colon.

A retrospective study of 71 patients who had a colonic resection for diverticular disease at one hospital during a 7-year period was undertaken. Patients were divided into those undergoing surgery for complications of diverticular disease (49) and those in whom abdominal pain and an altered bowel habit were attributed to the presence of diverticular disease in the absence of any detectable complication (22). In both groups major complications occurred after operation. The incidence of complications was greater when surgery was undertaken in stages to effect colonic resection and restoration of intestinal continuity. Symptoms were more often cured or relieved in those patients undergoing surgery for complicated diverticular disease than in those with 'uncomplicated' disease. These poor results may be due to incorrectly attributing symptoms to diverticula which happened to be present.