Outcome and treatment of acute diverticulitis

The incidence of acute diverticulitis and subsequent hospital admissions are increasing in Western countries, imposing a significant burden on health care resources. The natural history of mild diverticulitis is usually mild, and most patients are treated by conservative means often including antibiotics. However, major differences in clinical practice exist between countries and medical disciplines. Due to the lack of evidence, most recommendations in international guidelines are based on expert opinion. With the rising incidence, there is an emerging need for evidence-based practice in the treatment and follow-up of patients with acute diverticulitis. This thesis consists of two parts: Part 1 entitled "diagnosis and treatment of diverticular disease" discusses the different classifications and the variety of conservative treatment measures of acute diverticulitis. Part 2 entitled "follow-up after acute diverticulitis" in which follow-up with or without colonoscopy and risk factors for recurrent disease are discussed.