Perforated diverticulitis of the terminal ileum

The clinical course of a patient with perforated diverticulitis of the terminal ileum is described and six other reports in the literature are reviewed. The acute symptoms and signs simulate those of acute appendicitis, although two patients were seen with a less acute stage of disease; one had an enterovesical fistula and one (our patient) a walled-off abscess. Primary resection with ileotransverse colostomy is probably the preferred treatment, but mortality and morbidity have been significant.