Therapeutic management of acute uncomplicated diverticulitis.

Acute diverticulitis is a painful disease of the colon characterized by peridiverticular inflammation and/or infection. The spectrum of acute diverticulitis ranges from isolated peridiverticular inflammation all the way to free perforation with purulent or feculent peritonitis. Among gastrointestinal disorders, acute diverticulitis is one of the most common diagnoses in the ambulatory setting and principal hospital discharge diagnoses. Acute diverticulitis accounts for substantial utilization of healthcare resources and is a detriment to patients' quality of life. In the last decade, several cohort studies and trials have significantly improved our understanding of acute diverticulitis. This paper will review the current literature on acute uncomplicated diverticulitis with a focus on therapeutic management.