Obstruction at the neck leads to infection just the way an impacted faecolith leads to appendicitis. An obstructed diverticulum may develop micro perforations and cause tiny abscesses. If the perforations are large, abscesses are formed with clinical picture of sepsis. Fortunately free perforations are rare. Localised minor infections may settle down with conservative measures, but abscesses and obstruction need surgical intervention.
Some patients develop internal fistulae with the urinary bladder or the vagina.
These fistulae never heal spontaneously. Subacute obstruction is common. It is caused by luminal narrowing due to inflammation, fibrosis or compression by the pus. Complete obstruction is rare. Clinical features Diverticulosis is asymptomatic and is often an incidental finding on barium studies done for GI symptoms.