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Essential Guidelines to manage Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis, also known as colon diverticulitis, is a digestive disorder that includes a spectrum of conditions. These conditions may range from asymptomatic diverticulitis to symptomatic uncomplicated diverticulitis and complicated diverticulitis that includes chronic or acute diverticulitis. Diverticulitis occurs as a result of inflammation of one or more diverticula, which are numerous tiny pockets that form in the colon wall. Chronic diverticulitis can be extremely painful and require medical attention.

Causes and symptoms
Researchers are yet to figure out the actual cause of diverticulitis.

Essential Guidelines to manage Diverticulitis

However, they think that a low-fiber meal plan may play a role. Without sufficient fiber, the colon needs to overwork in order to push the stool forward. This may result in the formation of small pouches along the colon. Various bacteria may grow in these pouches that can lead to inflammation.

Diverticulitis treatment guidelines depend on the severity of the symptoms. The symptoms of diverticulitis may last for few hours to several days.

Stomach pain, tenderness or cramps on the lower side of the abdomen, which may become more severe while performing any movement
Diarrhea or constipation
Fever and chills
Feeling of fullness or not feeling like eating
Bloating and gas
Nausea and sometimes vomiting

Treatment
Patients with diverticulitis symptoms should follow diverticulitis treatment guidelines. In most cases, a brief bout of diverticulitis goes away if managed witht he right treatment. The treatment is same even if the condition is chronic. In case complications arise, surgical or gastroenterology consultation may be helpful. Initial diverticulitis treatment guidelines depend on the severity of the symptoms. If the patient experiences mild pain and is able to drink the liquid and shows no signs of complications, the healthcare professional may recommend a few diverticulitis treatment guidelines.

Treatments to relieve pain
Monotherapy for the outpatient treatment of uncomplicated diverticulitis
Lifestyle modifications, including changes in food (doctors may suggest a low fiber meal plan until the pain stops, then gradually increase fiber intake)

However, if the pain is severe and the patient is unable to drink any liquid, then hospital stay is recommended with a different treatment plan.

Healthcare experts may suggest monotherapy with other treatments.
The doctor may prohibit any food or drink by mouth for up to a week to allow the bowel to rest. During this time, the patient is allowed only intravenous fluids and nutrition.
Once these symptoms are resolved, the patient may have a minimum fiber meal plan as tolerated and afterward maintain a high-fiber intake.
Colonoscopy or barium enema with flexible sigmoidoscopy ought to be done after this episode to exclude the possibility of cancer, ischemia, or other inflammatory bowel diseases.

Surgeries
In rare cases, complications such as abscess, perforation, or bowel obstruction are not managable with the usual treatments. To treat these conditions, doctors may perform operations to remove the affected part of the intestine. If the patient is young, had an impaired immune system, and faced two or more severe attacks, the doctors may perform a non-urgent surgery.

The surgical process involves removal of the infected part of the large intestine and reconnecting the remaining parts. Doctors may perform more than one surgery, depending on the severity of the problem. A colostomy is performed in between the surgeries: it is a process where the intestine is sewn to an opening made in the abdomen skin. The stool passes out of the body into a disposable bag. A colostomy is removed in the later stage, and the intestine is reconnected.

Your physician may suggest surgeries as per diverticulitis treatment guidelines if you have certain problems.

Repeated occurrence of diverticulitis (two or more severe attacks)
High risk of repeated attacks
Formation of an abnormal opening in between the colon and an adjacent organ

As per the diverticulitis treatment guidelines, the infected part of the colon is required to be removed, if you have specific complications.

Formation of an infected pouch in the colon wall that has ruptured into the abdominal cavity
Blocked colon or narrow spot
Infection that spreads through the blood to the other parts of the body
Repeated to severe bleeding that does not stop with other treatments

In standard terms, surgery is usually successful, although it may not completely cure the disease. An estimated 6 out of 100 people suffering from diverticulitis may require surgery. After undergoing surgery, an estimated one in 12 patients may face a recurrence of the symptoms. In an emergency condition, the success rate depends on how unwell you are when you require the operation.

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