Diverticulitis of the right colon--experience from Hong Kong

Diverticulitis affects the right side of the colon more commonly than the left side in the Far East. A consecutive series of 35 patients (mean age 44 years) with right sided diverticulitis seen at this hospital is presented. All had localised pain in the right iliac fossa but systemic upset was uncommon. All but one were thought to have acute appendicitis. Thirty one were explored through a right iliac fossa incision but in more than half this had to be closed and a full laparotomy performed. A correct diagnosis was then made at the time of surgery in 28 (80%). Five patients underwent simple diverticulectomy, the remainder having a right hemicolectomy. On histological analysis most (26) had a single false diverticulum. All patients made a satisfactory recovery from surgery.