Surgery for Complicated Diverticulitis

Management of complicated diverticulitis continues to evolve. The dogma of decades past has undergone reevaluation in the wake of modern techniques and critical care management. This article attempts to address the following questions: (1) what defines “complicated diverticulitis”; (2) when is an intervention beyond medical management indicated; and (3) what currently (based on the type of complication) appears to be the optimal intervention?