Colonic Diverticulitis in the Elderly

Diverticular disease of the colon is a common gastrointestinal disorder, and its prevalence increases with age. Although present in perhaps two-thirds of the elderly, a large majority of patients with diverticular disease of the colon remain asymptomatic. Diverticulitis, the most common complication of diverticular disease of the colon, is a frequent challenge to the clinicians, especially in the elderly. Diagnosis and treatment of colonic diverticulitis in older patients may be more complicated than in young patients because more comorbid conditions are present. Precise diagnosis and accurate treatment of colonic diverticulitis are important topics in geriatric clinical practice. The concepts of treatment for colonic diverticulitis have been changed and reported in recent literature. This article reviews the diagnosis and treatment of colonic diverticulitis in the elderly.