“Can diverticulitis require intestine removal?”
I'm a 55 year old man, my doctor thinks I have diverticulitis. He said that if tests confirm it, I will probably have to get surgery if it's a severe case. Will diverticulitis surgery mean that I have to get pieces of my intestine removed?
6 Answers
Yes.
The mainstay treatment for diverticulitis is antibiotics. You may be referred for surgical removal of the involved colon if the condition returns after initial treatment.
Most people do not require surgery. However, those with severe problems from infection, bleeding or obstruction will need to have a portion of the colon removed. Occasionally, this will require a temporary colostomy.
Single attack of diverticulitis does not require surgery. Repeated attacks, signs of obstruction of the intestine, formation of abscess, or possible questions of a tumor hiding behind diverticulitis requires surgery.
Not all cases of diverticulitis leads to surgery, but if your diverticulitis is severe enough or have had several episodes or develop complications from it, you will likely need a segment of the diseased colon (large intestine) removed. In severe cases, you may end up with a colostomy (bag).
Diverticulitis is a form on inflammation of the colon. The colon is supposed to be a tube, but it can get pouches (diverticula) on the sides due to chronic increased pressure. This is the disease of diverticulosis which is present in about 60% of people over the age of 60. When the pouches get blocked by stool, they get inflamed and infected (diverticulitis).
Simple cases of diverticulitis can be managed with oral antibiotics alone. More severe cases require hospitalization and IV antibiotics. Complications of diverticulitis include an abscess (an infected fluid collection outside the colon) or a perforation. Small perforations may be managed conservatively with antibiotics and require elective surgery in 6-8 weeks. Perforations with sepsis and peritonitis (severe infections) require emergency surgery with removal of a portion of the colon and a temporary colostomy.
Simple cases of diverticulitis can be managed with oral antibiotics alone. More severe cases require hospitalization and IV antibiotics. Complications of diverticulitis include an abscess (an infected fluid collection outside the colon) or a perforation. Small perforations may be managed conservatively with antibiotics and require elective surgery in 6-8 weeks. Perforations with sepsis and peritonitis (severe infections) require emergency surgery with removal of a portion of the colon and a temporary colostomy.
