Significance of rectal bleeding in diverticular disease in patients at St. Mark's hospital

Abstract

Abstract The site of the rectal bleeding in diverticular disease was sought by examination of the surgical specimen and found in 28 of 49 cases examined. It was related to the diverticular disease in 9 cases and to other pathological conditions in 19 (39 per cent), 16 of which were polyps. Fourteen of the polyps were demonstrated by preoperative barium-enema examination. Adequate clinical and radiological examination demonstrated these other colonic conditions preoperatively in most of the patients.