[Complications of left colonic diverticula].

Diverticula constitute the most common anatomical abnormality of the colon. They are usually located on the left side of the colon, especially within the sigmoid colon. Most of them remain asymptomatic and only 10-25% of the patients can develop complications--inflammatory ones or bleeding. Both types of complications have similar morbidity, but patients who suffer from bleeding are on the average 10 years older as compared to group of patients who develop inflammatory complications. Vast majority of patients suffering from bleeding can be treated conservatively with overall mortality 2.8%. Mortality in the group of patients requiring an emergency/immediate operation for perforation of the diverticulum reached 18.2%. None of the patients suffering from diverticulitis without peritoneal signs on physical examination died--all of them were successfully treated conservatively. Therefore most of the complications of the colon can be treated conservatively, and surgical operation remains method of choice only in cases of massive bleeding or perforations.