Diverticulitis
Colon and Rectal Surgeon located in Sacramento and Roseville, CA
Diverticulitis affects the large bowel (colon), causing acute pain and long-term digestive problems. If you develop diverticulitis symptoms, visit one of the Sacramento Colon and Rectal Surgery Medical Group offices in Sacramento, or Roseville, California. The practice’s highly experienced surgeons perform advanced procedures to relieve diverticulitis symptoms. Call your nearest office to learn more about diverticulitis treatment options, or book an appointment online today.
Diverticulitis is inflammation of the diverticula — outpouchings in your large intestine (colon).
Up to two-thirds of the US population has diverticula, but they cause no problems for most people. However, if inflammation develops in the diverticula, it can lead to painful diverticulitis. Symptoms include:
Diverticulitis pain can be constant and persist for several days. The pain usually affects your abdomen’s left lower side but could develop on the right side.
Your Sacramento Colon and Rectal Surgery Medical Group provider diagnoses diverticulitis during a clinical examination and confirms it with a CT scan. They take blood for lab tests to assess the infection’s severity.
Diverticula develop because of weak spots in your bowel that form pouches on your colon walls. If the diverticula tear, inflammation develops. Food may become trapped in the pouches, leading to infection.
Diverticulitis risk factors include:
Certain medications, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs like ibuprofen), steroids, and opioids, may also increase your risk of diverticulitis.
Acute diverticulitis attacks might require intravenous antibiotics and bowel rest. You can switch to oral antibiotics when the inflammation starts settling.
Recurrent diverticulitis attacks or complications arising from diverticulitis may lead to surgery. Sacramento Colon and Rectal Surgery Medical Group usually performs surgery using minimally invasive robotic and laparoscopic techniques.
The two primary diverticulitis surgeries are:
Anastomosis is a primary bowel resection. It involves removing the damaged parts of your intestine and joining the healthy sections on either side. After your recovery, anastomosis should enable you to move your bowels normally.
Sometimes, there’s too much inflammation in the tissues, so your surgeon can’t reattach the colon. Instead, they create a hole (stoma) in your abdomen — an access point for an external bag (colostomy) that stores waste.
Surgeons can occasionally reverse colostomies when the bowel inflammation reduces.
If you have symptoms of diverticulitis, call Sacramento Colon and Rectal Surgery Medical Group today to request a consultation or book your appointment via the online booking form.