Colon diverticula

Colonic diverticulosis is one of the most common diseases of Western civilization and is due to the low-fiber diet. In the United States approximately 1/3 of the population develops diverticulosis at age 50 and 2/3 at age 80. Diverticulitis is described as a complication of infectious disease of the colon affecting in most cases exclusively the sigmoid and descending colon. While most cases of acute diverticulitis can be successfully managed with medical treatment, recurrent attacks and complications of diverticulitis are surgical treatment. The most important complications of diverticulitis are diffuse peritonitis, localized abscesses, fistulas (colovesical or colovaginal) and obstruction.