Moderate to severe symptoms may include a temperature, worsening abdominal pain and vomiting. This treatment includes IV intravenous fluids, IV antibiotics and clear liquids or nothing by mouth to rest the GI tract. If a perforation, obstruction, abscess or fistula abnormal opening in the intestine is present, further treatment is often needed. Recurrent episodes or a severe episode of diverticulitis may also require surgery to remove the diseased portion of the colon.
If the surgery is done on an emergency basis, two surgeries may be required. Once a person is diagnosed with diverticulitis, an evaluation of the entire colon with a colonoscopy is often recommended. This can identify the extent of disease and identify other issues, such as colon polyps.
Further follow-up with a GI gastrointestinal doctor is also recommended. The arteries supplying blood to the damaged part of the colon may weaken and rupture. This is diverticular bleeding. Treatment for diverticular bleeding will include urgent hospitalization and resuscitation, which will include IV placement, IV fluids and possible blood transfusion.
If bleeding persists, identification and treatment of the bleeding site will be needed. The patient will likely need emergency evaluation with a possible colonoscopy and endoscopic treatment. It is also possible that angiography with angiographic therapy or surgical intervention may be required. Masks are required for all patients, visitors, employees and staff.
Thank you. Make an Appointment. About Diverticulosis The colon, or large intestine, is the lower portion of the gastrointestinal GI tract and is about 5 feet long. Causes of Diverticulosis Diverticulosis is a condition that is fairly common as a person ages. Symptoms of Diverticulosis Most people have no symptoms with diverticulosis.
Complications of diverticulosis include diverticulitis and diverticular bleeding. Diverticulosis Diagnosis As stated earlier, diverticulosis is often diagnosed when another test is done, since often no symptoms are present, whereas diverticulitis is often diagnosed when acute symptoms are present. This relieves the intestines and you can again pass your stool.
In either case, we remove the perforated part of your colon. Then our care experts clean the infection from your abdominal cavity. The surgery removes the diseased and ruptured part of the colon.
A two-part surgery may be necessary in some cases. The first surgery involves removal of the diseased colon and creation of a colostomy. A colostomy is an opening in the skin, where the end of the colon is brought out to the outside. You attach a bag on this end to collect the stool bowel movements from the intestine. The lower end of the colon is temporarily sewed closed to allow it to heal. Connecting the ends immediately is unsafe.
Connecting them would put that new junction at very high risk of breaking down. Instead, we allow the colon inflammation to recede and the infection to go away.
Approximately three to six months later, we perform a second surgery. This time we reconnect the two parts of the colon and close the opening in the skin. You are then able to empty your bowels through the rectum. In some non-emergency situations, we remove the diseased area of the colon. Then we reconnect the two ends of the colon in one surgery, without the need for a colostomy. Click here for more information about colectomy.
If you have a complicated form of diverticulitis, you may need a delayed surgery care plan. First, we try to treat the infection and inflammation with antibiotics and bowel rest.
Your doctor reserves surgery for only true emergencies, like peritionitis and sepsis. If your condition permits, we treat you with antibiotics for several weeks, sometimes weeks. Then you get surgery to remove the diseased part of the colon several months later. The chance of recurrence is high if you decide not to have surgery. Waiting before having surgery allows inflammation and infection to heal.
Your surgeon will do a 1-stage surgery where he or she removes the diseased part of the colon and reconnect the colon at the same time. Most patients prefer this over the 2-stage surgery with the colostomy. Your doctor will discuss all known risks and benefits of surgery versus medical management alone. In many cases of complicated diverticulitis, the doctor will try to treat the infection and inflammation with antibiotics and bowel rest, and try to reserve surgery for only true emergencies such as with peritionitis and sepsis.
If this is possible, you may be treated with antibiotics for several weeks sometimes weeks , and then surgery to remove the diseased part of the colon will be planned within several months the chance of recurrence is high if surgery is not done. This allows the inflammation and infection to heal, and will allow the surgeon to do a 1-stage surgery remove the diseased part of the colon and reconnect the colon at the same time rather than a 2-stage surgery with the colostomy.
Your doctor will discuss with you the risks and benefits of surgery versus medical management alone. At the end of a diverticulitis episode, you should have the entire length of your colon examined. We usually perform this exam with a colonoscopy. This colon exam gives us the opportunity to determine the extent of your disease. We also can rule out the presence of abnormal lesions such as polyps or cancer. In rare cases, people can present with what appears to be diverticulitis, but can turn out to be colon cancer.
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In most cases, the colostomy is removed later and the intestine is reconnected. Author: Healthwise Staff. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use.
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Request Appointment. Health Encyclopedia. Home » Health Resources » Health Encyclopedia. Top of the page. Condition Basics What is diverticulitis? What causes it? What are the symptoms? How is it diagnosed? How is diverticulitis treated? Cause Doctors aren't sure what causes diverticulitis. What Increases Your Risk The possibility of having diverticulitis increases with age.
You may be more likely to develop diverticulitis if you: Eat a low-fiber diet. Have a family history of diverticulosis. Use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs or aspirin regularly more than 4 days a week for many years. Prevention You can do some things to help prevent diverticulitis.
Eat a high-fiber diet that is low in fat and red meat. Take a fiber supplement, such as Citrucel or Metamucil, every day if needed. Read and follow all instructions on the label. Practice healthy bowel habits.
Schedule time each day for a bowel movement. Having a daily routine may help. Drink plenty of water. Exercise regularly. Symptoms Symptoms of diverticulitis may last from a few hours to several days.
These symptoms may include: Tenderness, cramps, or pain in the belly. This is often in the lower left side but may occur on the right. These symptoms are sometimes worse when you move. Pain is the most common symptom. Fever and chills. A bloated feeling, swelling in the belly, or gas. Diarrhea or constipation. Nausea and sometimes vomiting. Not feeling like eating. What Happens Diverticulitis occurs when pouches diverticula that have formed in the wall of the large intestine colon become inflamed or infected.
When to Call Call or other emergency services immediately if the person has been bleeding from the anus and has signs of shock. Call your doctor now if you have pain in your belly that is in one spot as opposed to general pain in the belly , especially if you also have: Fever or chills.
Nausea and vomiting. Unusual changes in your bowel movements or swelling in your belly. Blood in your stool. Pain that's worse when you move. Burning pain when you urinate. Abnormal vaginal discharge. Call your doctor now if you have: Severe pain in your belly that is getting worse. Pain in your belly that gets worse when you move or cough. A stool that is mostly blood more than a few streaks of blood on the stool.
Blood in the stool may appear as reddish or maroon-colored liquid or clots. Or it may produce a black stool that looks like tar. Passed gas or stool from your urethra while urinating.
This likely means that you have an opening fistula between the bowel and the urinary tract. Call your doctor if you: Have cramping pain that does not get better when you have a bowel movement or pass gas. Have rectal bleeding. Have a change in bowel habits. Have been losing weight without trying. Call your doctor if you are treating mild diverticulitis at home and: You have a fever. Your pain is getting worse. You can't keep down liquids.
You are not better after 3 days. Watchful waiting It can be common to have bloating, gas pressure, or mild belly pain.
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