[Perforated diverticulum of the cecum: conservative therapy or resection?]

The diverticulum of the right colon is a rare disease in Western Countries but is very common in Eastern races. The etiology is usually congenital in the lesions limited to the cecum (true diverticulum). The diagnosis is rarely made preoperatively. The most useful help is from CT and US. Because the clinical features suggest an acute appendicitis, in most cases of appendicectomized patients the intervention is made without any other investigations. At laparotomy, when the diverticulum is surely identified, a conservative treatment is recommended (diverticulectomy or invagination). If there are some doubts an ileo-colic resection is more opportune. After recovery it is useful to study the colon with an Rx clisma.