[Clinical aspects of acute diverticulitis and its complications]

The diagnosis of acute diverticulitis is obvious if the patient presents with the typical symptoms of acute pain in the left lower abdominal quadrant and fever. A high index of suspicion, however, is required to diagnose diverticulitis with atypical presentation, which may be present in the elderly or immunocompromised patient. The detection of complications, most commonly diverticular abscess and colovesical fistulas, requires a careful and repeated examination and diagnostic skill.