REVIEW   

Minerva Medica 2017 October;108(5):448-63

DOI: 10.23736/S0026-4806.17.05201-6

Copyright © 2017 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Management of diverticulosis: what’s new?

Walter ELISEI ¹, Giovanni BRANDIMARTE ², Antonio TURSI ³ ✉

¹ Unit of Gastroenterology, ASL Roma 6, Albano Laziale, Rome, Italy; ² Division of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, “Cristo Re” Hospital, Rome, Italy; ³ Service of Gastroenterology, ASL BAT, Andria, Barletta-Andria-Trani, Italy

The incidence of diverticulosis and diverticular disease (DD) of the colon, including acute diverticulitis, is increasing worldwide, and becoming a significant burden on national health systems in terms of direct and indirect costs. Thus, significant efforts are now being focused to identify the correct therapeutic approach to treat symptomatic patients and to prevent diverticulitis. Fiber, non-absorbable antibiotics, 5-aminosalicylic acid and probioticsare currently being investigated in this way. Unfortunately, current evidences on the effectiveness of some medical treatment in preventing acute diverticulitis recurrence are still lacking. The effectiveness and the future perspectives of these treatments are discussed herein.

KEY WORDS: Diverticulum - Diverticulitis - Probiotics - Gastrointestinal microbiome