Acute colonic diverticulitis

Acute diverticulitis ( acute colonic diverticulitis )occurs when diverticula become inflamed or infected.

Microscopic or macroscopic perforation of the diverticular wall

Obstruction of the diverticular ostium by a stool fragment or food particles and subsequent inflammation , congestion and further obstruction

Focal inflammation and necrosis of the region leads to perforation

Bacterial overgrowth.

Diverticulitis is the most common complication of diverticulosis

Leading gastrointestinal cause of hospitalization

Incidence has increased in the Western world

Diverticulosis affects about 60 % of people older than 60

Incidence has increased over time and increases with patient age

Recent increase in incidence has been noted in younger age group

Reports suggest a lifetime risk of 4 % -developing acute left sided colonic diverticulitis( ALCD ) among those with diverticulosis

About 1/5th of patients with acute diverticulitis are under 50 yrs of age

About 20 % of patients with incidence diverticulitis will have atleast 1 recurrence ( risk of recurrence increases with subsequent episodes )

Suspect if presentation is with constant abdominal pain , usually severe and localising in the left lower quadrant with any of the following

LLQ pain is the most common presentation

Tenderness on palpation over the area of inflammation ( due to...