In a retrospective study from 1978 to 1990, 143 patients had elective surgery for colonic diverticular disease. Surgical indications were: uncomplicated diverticulitis (128), functional discomfort (6), suspicion of associated neoplasia (6), bleeding (3). The overall mortality is 1/143 (0.6 p. cent). 3 patients (2.2 p. cent) had to be reoperated for anastomotic fistula with peritonitis. Definitive re-establishment of digestive continuity was done in 139 patients (98.6 p. cent). Our results suggest that surgery is to be widely indicated for diverticular disease. Resection must be performed in every patients presenting with an history of two or more acute recurrences, with a fistula, and when clinical and/or radiological abnormalities continue after a first acute crisis.