Abstract
Diverticulosis is a common condition that has increased in prevalence in industrialized
countries over the past century. Estimates of developing diverticular disease in the
United states range from 5% by 40 years of age up, to over 80% by age 80. It is estimated
that approximately 20% of patients with diverticulosis develop diverticulitis over
the course of their lifetime. Diverticular disease can be divided into simple and
chronic diverticulitis with various sub categories. There are various instances and
circumstances where elective resection is indicated for both complex and simple forms
of this disease process. When planning surgery there are general preoperative considerations
that are important to be reviewed prior to surgery. There are also more specific considerations
depending on secondary problem attributed to diverticulitis, that is, fistula vs stricture.
Today, treatment for elective resection includes open, laparoscopic and robotic surgery.
Over the last several years we have moved away from open surgery to laparoscopic surgery
for elective resection. With the advent of robotic surgery and introduction of 3D
laparoscopic surgery the discussion of superiority, equivalence between these modalities,
is and should remain an important discussion topic.
Keywords
diverticulits - fistula - stricture - 3d laparoscopic surgery - robotic surgery -
complex diverticulitis
