Since the initial description of the diverticulosis of the colon in mid-1800, these saccular protrusions of the mucosa and submucosa of the colon through the bowel wall have progressively assumed more clinical importance over the 20th century and has become a common gastroenterological problem in the aging population.
I would agree if you were to say irritable bowel (IBS) is not the sexiest topic in medicine. Indeed it would not surprise me if IBS had made the bottom ten at an academy awards night for medicine. Yet IBS constitutes at least 30% of all gastrointestinal consultations. This year’s Digestive Diseases Week at Chicago has high lighted new developments in IBS which I would like to share with you.