. 2011 Sep 17;27(2):207–214. doi: 10.1007/s00384-011-1314-5

Table 6.

Proposed classification

Classification		Clinical presentation	Imaging	Treatment
A		Uncomplicated disease		Conservative treatment
		• Pain in left lower quadrant	CT scan or US	Treatment acute episode
		• Fever	• Phlegmon	• Antibiotics^a
		• Changes in relief pattern	• Small abscess in bowel wall	• Low residue diet^a
			Colonoscopy	Prevention
			• Diverticulosis	• Fibers
			• Inflammation	• Prevention of obesity
				• Treatment of comorbidity
				• Mesalazine^a
B		Chronic complicated disease		Elective intervention
		• Impaired passage of stool	CT scan	Sigmoid resection with primary anastomosis
		• Presence of fistula	• Stenosis	• Open
		• Recurrent rectal blood loss	• Fistula	• Laparoscopically
		• Incapacitating complaints	Colonoscopy
		• High-risk patients	• Stenosis
			• Fistula
			• Blood in diverticula
C		Acute complicated disease		Acute intervention
	1	• Fever	CT scan	Percutaneous drainage
	1	• Painful mass	• Large abscesses (>5 cm)	Percutaneous drainage
	2	• Ileus	CT scan	Sigmoid resection with primary anastomosis
	3	• Massive rectal blood loss	• Intestinal obstruction	Hartmann’s procedure
			CT angio	Sigmoid resection with primary anastomosis
			• Contrast blush	• Open
			Colonoscopy	• Laparoscopically
			• Active diverticular bleeding	Endoscopic intervention^a
			• Active diverticular bleeding	Endovascular coiling^a
	4	• Generalized peritonitis	CT scan	Diagnostic laparotomy/laparoscopy
			• Pneumoperitoneum	• Resection with primary anastomosis
			• Extraluminal contrast	• Hartmann’s procedure
			• Free fluid	• Lavage and drainage^a

^aExperimental or non-evidence-based treatment