Recurrent, Complicated Diverticulitis With Atypical Features

Diverticular disease is a common condition responsible for significant costs to the healthcare system in the Western world. It ranges from asymptomatic diverticulosis to complicated diverticulitis. Here, we present a unique case of recurrent, complicated diverticulitis in a 62-year-old Caucasian male. Within a span of one year, he was hospitalized six times with diverticulitis before undergoing elective sigmoid colon resection. Imaging showed diverticulitis of distal descending and proximal sigmoid colon with sealed perforation, recurrent abscesses, and formation of colocutaneous fistulas. During each hospitalization, the patient was advised to follow up with general surgery and/or outpatient gastroenterology but chose not to do so. Eventually, he required an elective sigmoid colectomy with a takedown of the colocutaneous fistulas. In this case report, we discuss the atypical features and criteria for prophylactic colon resection in diverticulitis to highlight the importance of outpatient follow-up with general surgery and gastroenterology.