Complications of Diverticular Disease
Complications list for Diverticular Disease:
The list of complications that have been mentioned in various sources
for Diverticular Disease includes:
- Intestinal infections (see Digestive symptoms)
- Colon perforations (see Bowel problems)
- Intestinal blockage
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
- Colon abscess (type of Abscess)
- Peritonitis - infection of the abdominal cavity; very dangerous
- Colon fistula (type of Fistula) - adhesion of colon with another organ, such as the bladder
- Infection of a diverticulum can result in diverticulitis. Tears in the colon leading to bleeding or perforations may occur, intestinal obstruction may occur (constipation or diarrhea does not rule this possibility out), peritonitis, abscess formation, retroperitoneal fibrosis, sepsis, and fistula formation. Rarely, an enterolith may form
- Infection of a diverticulum often occurs as a result of stool collecting in a diverticulum
- Abscess formation (see Abscess)
- Narrowing in the colon or fistula formation
- Perforation of the colon leading to peritonitis
See also the symptoms of Diverticular Disease and Diverticular Disease: Introduction.
Complications and sequelae of Diverticular Disease from the Diseases Database include:
Source: Diseases Database
See also the symptoms of Diverticular Disease and Diverticular Disease: Introduction.
Complications of Diverticular Disease:
Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis: NIDDK (Excerpt)
Diverticulitis can lead to complications such as infections,
perforations or tears, blockages, or bleeding. These complications always
require treatment to prevent them from progressing and causing serious
illness.
Bleeding
Bleeding from diverticula is a rare complication. When diverticula
bleed, blood may appear in the toilet or in your stool. Bleeding can be
severe, but it may stop by itself and not require treatment. Doctors
believe bleeding diverticula are caused by a small blood vessel in a
diverticulum that weakens and finally bursts. If you have bleeding from
the rectum, you should see your doctor. If the bleeding does not stop,
surgery may be necessary.
Abscess, Perforation, and Peritonitis
The infection causing diverticulitis often clears up after a few days
of treatment with antibiotics. If the condition gets worse, an abscess may
form in the colon.
An abscess is an infected area with pus that may cause swelling and
destroy tissue. Sometimes the infected diverticula may develop small
holes, called perforations. These perforations allow pus to leak out of
the colon into the abdominal area. If the abscess is small and remains in
the colon, it may clear up after treatment with antibiotics. If the
abscess does not clear up with antibiotics, the doctor may need to drain
it.
To drain the abscess, the doctor uses a needle and a small tube called
a catheter. The doctor inserts the needle through the skin and drains the
fluid through the catheter. This procedure is called percutaneous catheter
drainage. Sometimes surgery is needed to clean the abscess and, if
necessary, remove part of the colon.
A large abscess can become a serious problem if the infection leaks out
and contaminates areas outside the colon. Infection that spreads into the
abdominal cavity is called peritonitis. Peritonitis requires immediate
surgery to clean the abdominal cavity and remove the damaged part of the
colon. Without surgery, peritonitis can be fatal.
Fistula
A fistula is an abnormal connection of tissue between two organs or
between an organ and the skin. When damaged tissues come into contact with
each other during infection, they sometimes stick together. If they heal
that way, a fistula forms. When diverticulitis-related infection spreads
outside the colon, the colon's tissue may stick to nearby tissues. The
organs usually involved are the bladder, small intestine, and skin.
The most common type of fistula occurs between the bladder and the
colon. It affects men more than women. This type of fistula can result in
a severe, long-lasting infection of the urinary tract. The problem can be
corrected with surgery to remove the fistula and the affected part of the
colon.
Intestinal Obstruction
The scarring caused by infection may cause partial or total blockage of
the large intestine. When this happens, the colon is unable to move bowel
contents normally. When the obstruction totally blocks the intestine,
emergency surgery is necessary. Partial blockage is not an emergency, so
the surgery to correct it can be planned.
(Source: excerpt from Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis: NIDDK)
Facts and Fallacies About Digestive Diseases: NIDDK (Excerpt)
Less than 10 percent of
people with diverticulosis ever develop complications such as infection
(diverticulitis), bleeding, or perforation of the colon.
(Source: excerpt from Facts and Fallacies About Digestive Diseases: NIDDK)
Diverticular Disease Symptoms: Book Excerpts
You may also want to research other symptoms
in our Symptoms Center.
About complications:
Complications of Diverticular Disease are secondary conditions, symptoms, or other disorders that are
caused by Diverticular Disease.
In many cases the distinction between symptoms of Diverticular Disease and complications
of Diverticular Disease is unclear
or arbitrary.
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