title: Complications of colonic diverticulitis.
abstract: About half of the patients in whom diverticulitis develops have subsequent attacks. Recurrence increases the likelihood both of complications, such as perforation, abscess, fistula, obstruction, and hemorrhage, and of the necessity for surgical intervention. For these reasons, patients who have had two or more attacks of acute diverticulitis should be considered candidates for prophylactic resection.
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D004239:Diverticulitis, Colonic / Q000150:complications*; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007412:Intestinal Fistula / Q000209:etiology; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000209:etiology; D001747:Urinary Bladder Fistula / Q000209:etiology