Diverticular disease, and particularly diverticulitis, has an increasing in
cidence in Westernized countries because of low-fiber diet. Diverticular di
sease may be classified as asymptomatic, atypical, acute or uncomplicated,
and complicated. Conservative or medical management is usually indicated fo
r acute or uncomplicated diverticulitis, with elective surgical resection g
enerally being recommended after two documented episodes. Complicated diver
ticulitis, because of the high rate of recurrent problems, is generally man
aged promptly with sigmoid resection. Sigmoid resection for diverticulitis,
under appropriate circumstances, has one of the highest success rates of a
ny of the common gastrointestinal procedures.