Diverticulitis: selective surgical management.

The surgical treatment of complications of diverticulitis remains most challenging. A review of twenty years' experience with one hundred fifteen cases is presented with one proved anastomotic leak and no deaths. Interval primary resection with anastomosis for chronic recurrent disease including colovesical fistula and mesocolic abscess was proved sate with low morbidity. The three-stage procedure for perforated diverticulitis with spreading peritonitis or pericolic abscess was associated with a high rate of complications and morbidity. An aggressive approach with resection without anastomosis in two stages is indicated.