[Diagnosis and therapy of inflammatory cecal diverticula]

Caecal diverticular are rare, and so are their inflammatory complications. The clinical symptoms of caecal diverticulitis are hard to distinguish from those of acute appendicitis. Caecal diverticulitis, therefore, is usually diagnosed intraoperatively. Reported in this paper is experience obtained by the authors from seven patients who had received treatment, in recent years, at the Surgical Department of the University Hospital of Heidelberg, FRG. An account is given of incidence, possible diagnostic approaches, and potential complications. Surgical management of caecal diverticulitis should be restricted to the smallest possible intervention.