WGO Practice Guideline - Diverticular Disease
Title: Diverticular Disease
Definition
Diverticulum:
- A sac-like protrusion of mucosa through the muscular colonic wall [1].
- Protrusion occurs in weak areas of the bowel wall through which blood vessels can penetrate.
- Typically 5–10 mm in size.
- Diverticula are really pseudodiverticular (false diverticula), as they contain only mucosa and submucosa covered by serosa. Diverticular disease consists of:
- Diverticulosis: the presence of diverticula within the colon
- Diverticulitis: inflammation of a diverticulum
- Diverticular bleeding
Types of diverticular disease:
- Simple (75%), with no complications
- Complicated (25%), with abscesses, fistula, obstruction, peritonitis, and sepsis
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Core Review team
- Dr. T. Murphy
- Prof. R.H. Hunt
- Prof. M. Fried
- Dr. J.H. Krabshuis
