The stenosis diverticular symptomatic colon is a consequence of inflammation of the diverticula, called diverticulitis, which can lead to a narrowing of the lumen in the elderly, preventing the passage of stool.
Delicate but frequent intervention
“Sometimes – explains Professor Giuseppe Pappalardo, professor of general surgery at the La Sapienza University of Rome – we proceed in cases of severe inflammation, with medical therapy, but then often it is resolved with surgery”.
An intervention, according to experts, which is done only in case of real need, especially among the elderly. The operation involves resection of the compromised part. The patient remains in the hospital for at least ten days. “These are interventions of some importance – explained the doctor – but frequent”.
Incidence and diffusion
In the United States, about 300,000 people are hospitalized every year for diverticulitis with 1.5 million days of hospital treatment: these are the numbers disclosed by Sice, the Italian Society of Endoscopic Surgery and New Technologies. And the third disease gastrointestinal more common to require hospitalization.
Colon diverticulosis is more common in Western countries and mainly affects elderly subjects. The incidence increases with age: 10% of cases under 40, 25% at 60 and 50% in subjects over 80 years of age.
Complications of the disease have been reported overall in 5% of subjects with diverticulosis for at least ten years. “In the United Kingdom – explains Sipe – it happens four times out of 100,000, for an approximate total of 2,000 cases per year”.
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