Diverticular disease, and particularly diverticulitis, has an increasing incidence in Westernized countries because of low-fiber diet. Diverticular disease may be classified as asymptomatic, atypical, acute or uncomplicated, and complicated. Conservative or medical management is usually indicated for acute or uncomplicated diverticulitis, with elective surgical resection generally being recommended after two documented episodes. Complicated diverticulitis, because of the high rate of recurrent problems, is generally managed promptly with sigmoid resection. Sigmoid resection for diverticulitis, under appropriate circumstances, has one of the highest success rates of any of the common gastrointestinal procedures.
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