Latest diagnosis and management of diverticulitis

Diverticular disease is extremely common especially amongst the elderly. It mainly presents as sigmoid diverticulitis but there is potential for serious complications. In the acute setting Computed Tomography is the gold standard investigation and helps classify the stage. Evidence to support outpatient treatment of uncomplicated diverticulitis is appearing however hospital admission and treatment with intravenous antibiotics is often required and is highly effective. The decision to proceed with elective surgery is judged on an individual basis with a long-term conservative approach suitable for most. For elective surgery there is evidence to advocate a laparoscopic approach. In Hinchey stage III or IV disease, laparotomy followed by either a Hartmann’s procedure or ideally, a resection followed by primary anastomosis may be required. Radiologically guided drainage of an abscess is an established alternative and laparoscopic lavage is another less invasive option that has emerged. Following successful acute medical management, colonoscopy is usually performed several weeks after resolution to rule out other colonic pathology.