Diverticular disease of the colon includes both diverticulosis and diverticulitis. Diverticulosis refers to a non-inflammed diverticula or out pouchings are present with or without symptoms. Diverticulitis is present when one or more diverticula become inflammed. This inflammation can lead to perforation of the diverticulum with pericolic infection or abscess formation, free perforation with peritonitis, fistula formation, or obstruction. The usual symptoms of diverticulitis include:  fever, lower abdominal pain, and lower abdominal tenderness. Most patients with an acute episode of diverticulitis severe enough to require hospitalization can be treated with intravenous fluids, bowel rest, and broad spectrum antibiotics and analgesics. Patients who have more than one episode of acute diverticulitis requiring hospitalization should be considered for surgery. In this instance, a section of the bowel needs to be resected or cut away and joined back into continuity. At this time it is possible to do this both by open conventional surgery and also the laparoscopic method.
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