Diverticular disease practice points.

BACKGROUND: Diverticular disease and its spectrum of complications are increasingly encountered in the Australian population. Accurate management of patients before and after an acute episode entails extension beyond the acute event to include dietary advice and colonoscopy.

OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this article are to evaluate the literature regarding dietary factors and diverticular disease, routine colonoscopy and antibiotic treatment in acute diverticulitis, to enable primary care physicians to manage patients and provide sound advice after hospital admission.

DISCUSSION: Diverticulitis can often be managed in the community by general practitioners, but the necessity of antibiotics may not be definitive. When patients do require hospital admission, advice and management of patient lifestyle factors after admission, and investigations to rule out red flags are crucial. These elements of patient management are the subject of debate, as it appears that standard dietary advice does not alter a patient's clinical course, and colonoscopy is not always necessary and should be used judiciously.