title: Stapled diverticulectomy for solitary caecal diverticulitis.
abstract: Caecal diverticulitis is an uncommon phenomenon in western countries. The clinical diagnosis is often difficult as it mimics other acute abdominal conditions like appendicitis, colitis or neoplasia. Diagnosis is often made at operation. Operative strategy has been controversial and  there is no broad consensus emerging. We report the case of a 71-year-old woman, known to have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, who presented acutely with right iliac fossa pain. A clinical diagnosis of appendicitis was made. At laparoscopy, a solitary, inflamed, gangrenous caecal diverticulum  was found. A laparoscopic stapled diverticulectomy was performed. The patient made a steady post-operative recovery. Histology confirmed diverticulitis. We conclude that stapled diverticulectomy for solitary caecal diverticulitis is a safe and effective surgical strategy when confronted with  this scenario.
authors.affiliation: Scarborough General Hospital, Woodlands Drive, Scarborough, North Yorkshire YO12 6QL, UK. uzouwechue@gmail.com
authors.forename: R U
authors.initials: RU
authors.lastname: Uwechue
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurer
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D000368:Aged; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D002429:Cecal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D002432:Cecum / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004238:Diverticulitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005734:Gangrene / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods; D017792:Surgical Stapling