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What Is It?

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Diverticular disease is general term for small outpouchings or sacs called "diverticula" that form on the walls of the colon.

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There are two major categories:

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Diverticulosis: is presence of these outpourings or sacs

but without any symptoms. Over 50% of people have diverticulosis

usually in the sigmoid colon by their 60s-70s.

They can progress to more serious episodes of diverticulitis.

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Diverticulitis: and inflammatory condition associated with

the colonic outpouchings called diverticula. They are usually

from a perforation of one of these sacs. A variety of complications

can happen from this including sepsis, abscess formation,

a fistula to the bladder or vagina, and narrowing of the colon over time. 

 

 

Then, there are a two different flavors of Diverticulitis:

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Uncomplicated Diverticulitis: Inflammation of the colon at the diverticula 

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Complicated Diverticulitis: Including diverticulitis with any of the following: perforation, Abscess, Fistula, Colovesical fistula (to bladder) colovaginal fistula, colonic obstruction from stricture

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Causes

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The most commonly accepted theory is that pressure on the colonic walls causes outpouchings to occur at natural weak points of the colon wall, in places usually were small blood vessels penetrate the colonic wall. We believe it is from a low fiber "Western diet" that this occurs, but the etiology is not exactly clear. 

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Treatments

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For Uncomplicated Diverticulitis, it is largely medical treatment with antibiotics and bowel rest.Repeated attacks may require surgery.

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For Complicated Diverticulitis, treatment is mostly surgical, either in an emergent/urgent, or elective fashion. Surgical treatment is important in complicated diverticulitis because recurrence rates are very high or anatomical problems from diverticulitis (fistula, stricture) cannot be corrected by antibiotics alone.

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Dr. Squillaro specializes in some of the most complex diveticular diseases and receives transfer patients from other institutions across Northern California for surgical management.

 

If you have had a colostomy from a diverticulitis emergency, Dr. Squillaro also performs minimally invasive robotic colostomy reversal to help restore your life back to normal again.

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Reference: https://fascrs.org/patients/diseases-and-conditions/a-z/diverticular-disease

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