Natural history of bleeding risk in colonic diverticulosis.

ABSTRACT

Colonic diverticulosis prevalence is gradually increasing worldwide. From 3% to 15% of the patients with diverticulosis will bleed at some point. The risk for rebleeding after the first episode is substantial but varies in the literature between 13-48%. We analyzed risk factors for diverticular bleed and management options for initial and recurrent diverticular bleeding. A review of the literature on this subject is presented.