Diverticular Disease

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. [@chutkaMD] Guests: Sahil Khanna, M.B.B.S., M.S., and Sherief Shawki, M.B., B.Ch., M.D. Diverticulosis is quite common. Its prevalence varies with age from fewer than 20% at age 40 to 60% by age 60. It's far more common in the left colon and tends to be progressive with both the number and size of the diverticula, both increasing with age. There are potential complications of diverticulosis, with diverticulitis being most common. This also tends to increase in prevalence with age and appears to be increasing with time. Can diverticulitis be prevented? What’s the best way to manage a patient with acute diverticulitis and when is surgery indicated? I’ll be asking these questions and more to my guests, Sahil Khanna, M.B.B.S., M.S., from the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Sherief Shawki, M.B., B.Ch., M.D., from the Division of Colorectal Surgery at the Mayo Clinic. The topic for this podcast is diverticular disease. Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.