Is Elective Surgery Necessary After Uncomplicated Diverticulitis?

In a practice guideline, published in 2000, the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons stated that “elective resection should be considered after one or two well-documented attacks of diverticulitis.” In 2006, however, the Society revised its recommendation and advised that surgery be considered “on a case-by-case basis” after uncomplicated diverticulitis (JW Gastroenterol Aug 18 2006).

Because no randomized trials of surgery versus no surgery exist, better understanding of the natural history of diverticulitis is necessary. In this study, researchers analyzed a Medicare database of 16,000 older patients (mean age, 78) with acute diverticulitis; patients who had previous episodes within 18 months of their index episodes were excluded.…