Diseases of the colon and rectum
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Initial management of diverticulitis with abscess formation has progressed from a surgical emergency to nonoperative management with antibiotics and percutaneous drainage followed by delayed resection. Controversy has arisen regarding the necessity of elective surgery, when nonoperative management has successfully resolved the index attack. ⋯ The evidence from the literature is weak but still suggests that complicated diverticulitis with abscess formation is associated with a high probability of resective surgery, whereas conservative management may result in chronic or recurrent diverticular symptoms.