Diverticular disease

Abstract

The term diverticular disease is a generic term that is usually reserved for the condition of acquired false diverticula that affect predominantly the left sided and sigmoid colon. Right-sided diverticular disease does occur and is seen in practice, but is almost exclusively found in Oriental or Asian patients. Other diverticula exist (e. g. Meckel's diverticula) but will not be discussed in this chapter. Diverticular disease is a common condition with a prevalence of greater than 60% in Western populations who reach the age of 70 years [1]. Autopsy studies on patients with non-gastrointestinal (GI)-related death have shown diverticula to exist within the colon of patients in their second decade. As people get older, their likelihood of having at least one diverticulum in their colon increases. The prevalence within the Western population is said to be increasing; however, an element of this increase is likely to reflect increased detection, especially as we enter the advent of bowel-cancer screening programmes. With the prevalence statistics in mind, therefore, it is perhaps surprising to reflect on the paucity with which this group of patients presents to the healthcare services. © 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.