Laparoscopic treatment for acute diverticular disease.

Diverticular disease of the sigmoid colon involves more than 50% of population over 60 years, and much more in people older than 80 years. Most patients remain asymptomatic, but, about 10-20% develop complications requiring surgery. Colonic diverticulitis represents an acute bowel inflammation, in many cases, confined only to the sigmoid and descending colon. Recurrent attacks and complications of diverticulitis require surgical procedure, although most cases can be managed medically. The cause of acute diverticulitis remains obscure. It has been speculated that obstruction at the mouth of the diverticulum results in diverticulitis, similar to appendicitis, but this is no longer the accepted theory, and some feel that chronic inflammation precedes clinical diverticulitis.