Bleeding diverticulum; See also Bowel- Diverticulosis & Diverticulitis (Chapter 2.14)

Those with diverticulosis will develop diverticular bleeding 3-5% of the time

After angiodysplasia, diverticula hemorrhage is the second commonest cause of colonic bleeding representing 50% of acute lower GI bleeds

Most are clinically insignificant bleeds, however 5% represent a massive bleed

Erosion of blood vessels feeding diverticulum by a fecalith (i.e. not an inflammatory process)

Diverticula more common in left colon; but bleeding diverticula are usually in right colon!

Mostly painless bleeding (maroon-colored stools or hematochezia)