General Surgery: Diverticular Disease

Diverticular disease is a condition in which small sacs and pouches form inside the walls of the large intestine. Plus, the diverticular disease involves the damage or inflammation of the interior linings of the colon. When a person reaches adulthood, their colon can start to show the formation of diverticula. Thus, suffering from diverticular disease can make you susceptible to concerning symptoms.

What is Diverticulitis?

Diverticulitis is the most serious type of diverticular disease. It is also one of the most common abdominal problems of the west. It constitutes a series of conditions that harm your digestive tract. Furthermore, it can lead to disturbing and harsh symptoms that may require surgery for treatment.

Diverticular Disease: Symptoms

The symptoms of diverticulitis can range in intensity. Moreover, symptoms also vary in frequency. Some experience instance symptoms. While others stay asymptomatic for a long time and gradually start experiencing symptoms over a couple of days. The most common symptoms of diverticular diseases are:

• Stomachache
• Bloating in your stomach
• Constipation
• Diarrhea

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However, in terms of diverticulitis, symptoms happen to be more severe and extreme, such as:

• Frequent and constant stomach pain.
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Rectal Bleeding

The most recurring and evident symptom of diverticular disease is abdominal pain. Developing symptoms that translate with the diverticulitis is a clear indication that you need instant medical help.

Diagnosis of Diverticulitis

The doctor will diagnose diverticulitis firstly by carrying out a physical exam. It is important to notice that this disease often has no symptoms at all. The diagnosis of this disease usually results from a routine colonoscopy procedure. This makes it incredibly difficult to diagnose this disease without the help of tests.

However, doctors do check the patient’s stomach to see if it is showing any signs of tenderness. Ideally, the diagnosis of this disease involves running a few tests on the patient. These tests include a series of abdominal tests that allow the doctor to have a clear vision of the interior linings of the large intestine or colon.

Tests such as abdominal ultrasound, MRI scan, CT scan, and X-ray provide doctors with an extensive view of the patient’s gastrointestinal tract. Another great diagnosis method is the use of colonoscopy procedures. This may even be better since the doctor has control of the camera, and they can navigate it for a closer and clearer view of the problem. With a colonoscopy tube, a doctor has a better resolution of the disrupting pouches. Hence, they can make a better diagnosis and formulate an excellent treatment plan to tackle the problem.

Diverticular Disease: Treatment

Surgery is imminent in cases where the diverticulitis starts developing complications. On the other hand, you can treat uncomplicated diverticulitis easily by making slight changes to your diet. Furthermore, your doctor can also prescribe you over-the-counter medicine.

Doctors can also treat some cases of complicated diverticulitis with IV fluids and intravenous medication. The treatment for this condition varies on the severity of the disease and the age of the person. Other factors also come into play when deciding the treatment, but these two are crucial.

General Surgery for Diverticulitis

Surgery is usually the last resort in terms of the treatment of diverticular diseases. When medications and dietary changes fail to work, and the pain begins to worsen as time passes by, a person has no option but to opt for surgery. An effective surgery can be extremely helpful for a patient. It can alleviate pain, diminish symptoms, and make bowel movements better. You will find two main types of surgeries for diverticular diseases.

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Bowel Resection – Anastomosis

This surgery is a simple procedure in which the surgeon makes an incision in your abdomen to enter the colon. The surgeon then removes the infectious segments and pouches in the linings of your colon. After the removal process, the surgeon attaches the healthy part of your colon either by sewing them or using a staple.

Bowel Resection – Colostomy

Bowel resection with colostomy involves the removal of the diverticula in your intestine walls. The surgeon cuts off the inflamed region of your colon and then attaches the two regions to the openings of each other.

Surgeons can perform both of these surgeries using an open method and also with the help of laparoscopy. The latter option is less invasive and accounts for a quicker recovery time. Regardless of the options, both techniques yield results in regards to treatment.

Diverticular Disease Conclusion: Consult Lenox Hill Surgeons Today

If you have abdominal issues and require expert consultancy and treatment, then visit us at Lenox Hill Surgeons. We provide the best surgeons in NYC concerning colon and abdomen issues. Visit our website for more information or call us at (212) 988-1136 to book an appointment.