DIVERTICULAR DISEASE

DIVERTICULAR DISEASE

Diverticula (hollow outpouchings) are a common structural abnormality of the gastrointestinal tract. They can be clas sified as: /uni25CF congenital : all three coats of the bowel are present in the wall of the diverticulum (e.g. Meckel’s diverticulum). /uni25CF acquired : there is no muscularis layer present in the diverticulum (e.g. sigmoid diverticular disease). Diverticula are found in the left colon in around 75% of those over 70 years of age in the Western world. The condition is overwhelmingly found in the sigmoid colon but can a ff ect the whole colon. In South East Asia right-sided diverticular dis ease is more common. Diverticula are most often asymptom atic (diverticulosis) and found incidentally , but they can present clinically with sepsis or haemorrhage.