Customized treatment for diverticulitis in Fort Worth, Texas
Alliance Colorectal Specialists provides relief for patients with diverticulitis with the most advanced minimally invasive surgeries.
Lower abdominal pain, fever, nausea and vomiting are common symptoms of diverticulitis, a serious condition in which sections of the colon become infected and inflamed. Tiny pouches, known as diverticula, grow inside the colon and are mostly undetected.
Diverticulitis occurs in about 10 to 20% of patients, who are typically 50 and older. The diverticula grow in weak spots on the left side of the colon.
What are the symptoms of diverticulitis?
Diverticulitis can cause severe pain, often in the lower left part of your abdomen. Pain intensity can fluctuate, and you might also experience either constipation or diarrhea, fever, chills, nausea or vomiting.
This condition can also lead to serious complications, which may worsen the symptoms or trigger additional problems.
How is diverticulitis treated?
For mild diverticulitis, a patient might need oral antibiotics, a short-term low residue diet and rest. More severe cases may require intravenous antibiotics and a liquid diet to let the colon recover. For patients with complications or repeated flare-ups, surgery is typically the best solution.
Diverticulitis complications and their treatments include:
Abscesses
An abscess is an infected pus-filled pocket immediately outside your colon wall and is usually treated with drainage using a small catheter and antibiotics.
Bowel perforation
Diverticulitis can lead to a tear or puncture within the colon. The colon contents (stool and bacteria) can leak out of your bowel and cause severe infection or other serious problems. Surgical treatment may be the best solution.
Peritonitis
Peritonitis occurs when your abdominal lining gets inflamed and/or infected because of free perforation of the colon from diverticulitis or other conditions. This causes serious symptoms and can possibly be fatal due to overwhelming infection, so prompt treatment is vital. Treatment usually involves surgical removal of the colon with a temporary colostomy. A colostomy is where the colon is brought to the skin and the contents (stool) empty into a bag.
Fistula
A fistula is an abnormal connection between the colon (intestine) and another organ. Usually, a fistula develops between the colon and bladder. In women, fistulas can develop between your colon and vagina. Usually, fistula treatment requires removal of the section of the colon containing the fistula.