Diverticular Disease

The most common cause of lower GI bleeding involves the colonic diverticular, with diverticulosis as the source of bleeding.

It is uncommon in those under the age of 40 years but there is more than a 200 fold increase from the age of 20 to 80 years [11]. It has been shown that asymmetric rupture of the vasa recta at the dome of the diverticulum with intimal eccentric thickening and medial thinning can be found at or near the bleeding point. Trauma is thought to play a role in predisposing the diverticula to bleed [11,12].

Learning bite

Diverticular disease is the commonest cause of acute lower GI haemorrhage in the elderly.