[Myotomy: surgical treatment of diverticulitis (author's transl)]

Since 1973 myotomy has been performed in 36 patients with sigmoid diverticulosis or diverticulitis. The operation is most suitable for patients with moderate stenosis and clinically recurring symptoms no longer responding to conversative treatment. When widespread inflammation is present, the risk involved in the operation rises: the separation of the intestinal wall layers is difficult and the danger of a mucosal perforation followed by peritonitis will increase. In those cases an exteriorisation resection is less risky. On performing a myotomy operation an early carcinoma developing between the diverticula can remain undetected.