Diverticular Disease

Diverticulosis is often asymptomatic. However, if they do occur they are generally due to thickening and spasm of the colon wall and can include:

• Abdominal pain (typically on the lower left side)
• Change in bowel habits
• Diarrhea
• Bleeding, which may be severe and potentially life-threatening
• Symptoms of diverticulitis are generally more inflammatory in nature and may include:
• Abdominal pain
• Fever
• Vomiting
• Variety of other symptoms related to the nature and extent of inflammation

The diagnosis of diverticulosis is made by endoscopic or x-ray evaluation of the colon.

The diagnosis of diverticulitis is often made by an evaluation of the patient symptoms and confirmed by additional testing.

Diverticulosis is often asymptomatic and generally requires no treatment. Once the condition has been identified, a high-fiber diet is usually recommended to prevent the development of further disease.

Crampy abdominal pain and irregular bowel movements that may accompany diverticulosis are usually managed by dietary modification and medications directed toward treating the muscular spasm of the colon.

Treatment of diverticulitis is individualized to the patient and his or her particular illness. Some people may be treated as an outpatient with oral antibiotics – others require hospitalization with bowel rest and intravenous antibiotics.

Patients with recurrent, complicated or severe diverticulitis may require surgery for their disease. Typically this involves removing a portion of the colon.

Patients who recover from an attack of diverticulitis without requiring surgery should have an evaluation of their colon to confirm that their illness was, in fact, due to diverticulitis and not some other pathologic process. This evaluation usually takes the form of colonoscopy.