Diverticular Disease

A 58-year-old man from rural India presents with acute left lower abdominal pain, fever (38.5°C), and constipation for 3 days. On examination, he has localized tenderness and guarding in the left iliac fossa. Blood investigations show WBC 14,500/μL, CRP elevated at 85 mg/L. CT abdomen with IV contrast reveals a 4 cm inflamed diverticulum with pericolic fat stranding and a small loculated collection (2 cm) adjacent to the sigmoid colon. He is hemodynamically stable. What is the most appropriate management?

A 72-year-old woman with a history of recurrent diverticulitis (3 episodes in 2 years) presents with acute left lower abdominal pain, fever (39°C), and abdominal distension. On examination, she has generalized peritoneal signs with rebound tenderness and guarding. Abdominal X-ray shows pneumoperitoneum. CT abdomen confirms a perforated diverticulum with free air and purulent peritonitis. Her blood pressure is 100/65 mmHg, heart rate 110/min, and WBC 18,000/μL. After initial resuscitation, what is the most appropriate surgical approach?

In the classification of colonic diverticular disease, what is the defining characteristic that distinguishes Hinchey stage III from stage II?