Summary
Approximately 17 per cent of 500 patients with diverticular disease had colonic hemorrhage. In most cases the bleeding was mild, but it is potentially a lethal complication. In this series the associated mortality was 3.6 per cent. If the bleeding site is readily identifiable it is reasonable to resect the involved area; if not, total abdominal colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis is the preferred procedure. Selective arteriography is now performed more often, and has been helpful in localizing the site of hemorrhage in several patients.
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Gennaro, A.R., Rosemond, G.P. Colonic diverticula and hemorrhage. Dis Colon Rectum 16, 409–415 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02587589
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02587589