Treatments for Diverticular Disease
Treatments for Diverticular Disease
The list of treatments mentioned in various sources
for Diverticular Disease
includes the following list.
Always seek professional medical advice about any treatment
or change in treatment plans.
- Treatments to prevent diverticulitis:
- Antibiotics
- Intravenous antibiotics
- Bed rest
- Liquid diet
- Pain relief
- Hospitalization
- Percutaneous catheter drainage - for an abscess
- Colon surgery - to correct a problem or remove part of the colon, also for a fistula or abscess
- Colon resection
- Colostomy
- Recovery regimen - during recovery
- Various measured may be used to soothe and prevent a recurrence:
- Many patients with diverticulosis have minimal or no symptoms, and do not require any specific treatment. A high fiber diet and fiber supplements are advisable to prevent constipation and the formation of more diverticula
- Acute diverticulitis is treated with antibiotics
- After the acute infection has improved, eating high-fiber foods and using bulk additives such as psyllium may help reduce the risk of diverticulitis or other symptoms
Diverticular Disease: Is the Diagnosis Correct?
The first step in getting correct treatment is
to get a correct diagnosis.
Differential diagnosis list for Diverticular Disease may include:
Hidden causes of Diverticular Disease may be incorrectly diagnosed:
Diverticular Disease: Marketplace Products, Discounts & Offers
Products, offers and promotion categories available for Diverticular Disease:
Diverticular Disease: Research Doctors & Specialists
Research all specialists including ratings, affiliations, and sanctions.
Drugs and Medications used to treat Diverticular Disease:
Note:You must always seek professional medical advice about any prescription drug, OTC drug, medication, treatment
or change in treatment plans.
Some of the different medications used in the treatment of Diverticular Disease include:
Latest treatments for Diverticular Disease:
The following are some of the latest treatments for Diverticular Disease:
Hospital statistics for Diverticular Disease:
These medical statistics relate to hospitals, hospitalization and Diverticular Disease:
- 0.47% (59,435) of hospital consultant episodes were for diverticular disease of intestine in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- 87% of hospital consultant episodes for diverticular disease of intestine required hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- 39% of hospital consultant episodes for diverticular disease of intestine were for men in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- 61% of hospital consultant episodes for diverticular disease of intestine were for women in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- more hospital information...»
Hospitals & Medical Clinics: Diverticular Disease
Research quality ratings and patient incidents/safety measures
for hospitals and medical facilities in specialties related to Diverticular Disease:
Hospital & Clinic quality ratings » »
Choosing the Best Treatment Hospital:
More general information, not necessarily in relation to Diverticular Disease,
on hospital and medical facility performance and surgical care quality:
Discussion of treatments for Diverticular Disease:
Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis: NIDDK (Excerpt)
A high-fiber diet and, occasionally, mild pain medications will help
relieve symptoms in most cases. Sometimes an attack of diverticulitis is
serious enough to require a hospital stay and possibly surgery.
(Source: excerpt from Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis: NIDDK)
Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis: NIDDK (Excerpt)
Increasing the amount of fiber in the diet may reduce symptoms of
diverticulosis and prevent complications such as diverticulitis. Fiber
keeps stool soft and lowers pressure inside the colon so that bowel
contents can move through easily. The American Dietetic Association
recommends 20 to 35 grams of fiber each day. The table below shows the
amount of fiber in some foods that you can easily add to your diet.
Amount of Fiber in Some Foods
| Fruits |
| apple |
1 medium |
= |
4 grams |
| peach |
1 medium |
= |
2 grams |
| pear |
1 medium |
= |
4 grams |
| tangerine |
1 medium |
= |
2 grams |
Vegetables |
| acorn squash, fresh, cooked |
3/4 cup |
= |
7 grams |
| asparagus, fresh, cooked |
1/2 cup |
= |
1.5 grams |
| broccoli, fresh, cooked |
1/2 cup |
= |
2 grams |
| brussels sprouts, fresh, cooked |
1/2 cup |
= |
2 grams |
| cabbage, fresh, cooked |
1/2 cup |
= |
2 grams |
| carrot, fresh, cooked |
1 |
= |
1.5 grams |
| cauliflower, fresh, cooked |
1/2 cup |
= |
2 grams |
| romaine lettuce |
1 cup |
= |
1 gram |
| spinach, fresh, cooked |
1/2 cup |
= |
2 grams |
| tomato, raw |
1 |
= |
1 gram |
| zucchini, fresh, cooked |
1 cup |
= |
2.5 grams |
Starchy Vegetables |
| black-eyed peas, fresh, cooked |
1/2 cup |
= |
4 grams |
| lima beans, fresh, cooked |
1/2 cup |
= |
4.5 grams |
| kidney beans, fresh, cooked |
1/2 cup |
= |
6 grams |
| potato, fresh, cooked |
1 |
= |
3 grams |
Grains |
| bread, whole-wheat |
1 slice |
= |
2 grams |
| brown rice, cooked |
1 cup |
= |
3.5 grams |
| cereal, bran flake |
3/4 cup |
= |
5 grams |
| oatmeal, plain, cooked |
3/4 cup |
= |
3 grams |
| white rice, cooked |
1 cup |
= |
1 gram |
Source: United States Department
of Agriculture (USDA). USDA Nutrient Database for standard reference.
Available at www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/cgi-bin/nut_search.pl.
Accessed September 19, 2001.
The doctor may also recommend taking a fiber product such as Citrucel
or Metamucil once a day. These products are mixed with water and provide
about 2 to 3.5 grams of fiber per tablespoon, mixed with 8 ounces of
water.
Until recently, many doctors suggested avoiding foods with small seeds
such as tomatoes or strawberries because they believed that particles
could lodge in the diverticula and cause inflammation. However, this is
now a controversial point and no evidence supports this recommendation.
Individuals differ in the amounts and types of foods they can eat.
If cramps, bloating, and constipation are problems, the doctor may
prescribe a short course of pain medication. However, many medications
affect emptying of the colon, an undesirable side effect for people with
diverticulosis.
(Source: excerpt from Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis: NIDDK)
Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis: NIDDK (Excerpt)
Treatment for diverticulitis focuses on clearing up the infection and
inflammation, resting the colon, and preventing or minimizing
complications. An attack of diverticulitis without complications may
respond to antibiotics within a few days if treated early.
To help the colon rest, the doctor may recommend bed rest and a liquid
diet, along with a pain reliever.
An acute attack with severe pain or severe infection may require a
hospital stay. Most acute cases of diverticulitis are treated with
antibiotics and a liquid diet. The antibiotics are given by injection into
a vein. In some cases, however, surgery may be necessary.
(Source: excerpt from Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis: NIDDK)
Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis: NIDDK (Excerpt)
When is surgery necessary?
If attacks are severe or frequent, the doctor may advise surgery. The
surgeon opens the abdomen and removes the affected part of the colon. The
remaining sections of the colon are rejoined. This type of surgery, called
colon resection, aims to keep attacks from coming back and to prevent
complications. The doctor may also recommend surgery for complications of
a fistula or intestinal obstruction.
If antibiotics do not correct the attack, emergency surgery may be
required. Other reasons for emergency surgery include a large abscess,
perforation, peritonitis, or continued bleeding.
Emergency surgery usually involves two operations. The first surgery
will clear the infected abdominal cavity and remove part of the colon.
Because of infection and sometimes obstruction, it is not safe to rejoin
the colon during the first operation. The surgeon creates a temporary
hole, or stoma, in the abdomen during the first operation. The end of the
colon is connected to the hole, a procedure called a colostomy, to allow
normal eating and bowel movement. The stool goes into a bag attached to
the opening in the abdomen. In the second operation, the surgeon rejoins
the ends of the colon.
(Source: excerpt from Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis: NIDDK)
Buy Products Related to Treatments for Diverticular Disease
Book Excerpts: Treatment of Diverticular Disease
Treatments of Diverticular Disease: Online Medical Books
16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE!
Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration,
for more information about the treatments of Diverticular Disease.
Diverticular disease:
Treatment
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Diverticulosis that doesn’t produce symptoms generally doesn’t necessitate treatment. Intestinal diverticulosis with pain, mild GI distress, constipation, or difficult defecation may respond to a liquid or bland diet, stool softeners, and occasional doses of mineral oil. These measures relieve symptoms, minimize irritation, and lessen the risk of progression to diverticulitis. After pain subsides, patients also benefit from a high-residue diet and bulk medication such as psyllium.
Treatment of mild diverticulitis without signs of perforation must prevent constipation and combat infection. It may include bed rest, a liquid diet, stool softeners, and a broad-spectrum antibiotic.
If diverticulitis is refractory to medical treatment, a colon resection is necessary to remove the involved segment. Perforation, peritonitis, obstruction, or fistula that accompanies diverticulitis may require a temporary colostomy to drain abscesses and rest the colon, followed by later reanastomosis 6 weeks to 3 months after initial surgery.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Esophageal diverticula:
Treatment
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Treatment of Zenker’s diverticulum is usually palliative and includes a bland diet, thorough chewing, and drinking water after eating to flush out the sac. However, severe symptoms or a large diverticulum necessitates surgery to remove the sac or facilitate drainage. An esophagomyotomy may be necessary to prevent recurrence.
A midesophageal diverticulum seldom requires therapy except when esophagitis aggravates the risk of rupture, in which case treatment includes antacids and an antireflux regimen: keeping the head elevated, maintaining an upright position for 2 hours after eating, eating small meals, controlling chronic coughing, and avoiding constrictive clothing.
Epiphrenic diverticulum requires treatment of accompanying motor disorders. Achalasia is treated by repeated dilations of the esophagus; acute spasm is controlled by anticholinergic administration and diverticulum excision; and dysphagia or severe pain are relieved by surgical excision or suspending the diverticulum to promote drainage. Treatment may also include parenteral feeding to improve the patient’s nutritional status.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Diverticular disease:
Treatment
(Handbook of Diseases)
The two forms of the disease call for different treatment regimens.
Diverticulosis
Asymptomatic diverticulosis generally doesn’t require treatment. Diverticulosis with pain, nausea, or constipation may respond to a liquid or low-residue diet, stool softeners, and occasional doses of mineral oil. These measures relieve symptoms, minimize irritation, and lessen the risk of progression to diverticulitis.
After pain subsides, patients also benefit from a low-residue diet and bulk medication such as psyllium (1 teaspoon twice a day) and increased water consumption (8 glasses per day).
Diverticulitis
Treatment of mild diverticulitis without signs of perforation aims to prevent constipation and combat infection. This includes bed rest, a liquid diet, stool softeners or bulking agents, a broad-spectrum antibiotic (such as metronidazole and ciprofloxacin or co-trimoxazole), meperidine to control pain and relax smooth muscle, and an antispasmodic such as propantheline to control muscle spasms.
Diverticulitis that doesn’t respond to medical treatment requires surgical resection.
Clinical tip Surgical consultation should be obtained if the patient fails to improve after being medically managed for 72 hours.
Perforation, peritonitis, obstruction, or a fistula that accompanies diverticulitis may require a temporary colostomy to drain abscesses and rest the colon, 6 to 8 weeks after inflammation or infection subside. The colon can be reconnected.
Complications of diverticulitis include formation of fistulas involving any of the following: bladder, ureters, bowel, and abdominal wall. Diverticulitis can also cause colon stricture, which may result in partial or complete obstruction.
Patients who hemorrhage need blood replacement and careful monitoring of fluid and electrolyte balance. Such bleeding usually stops spontaneously.
If bleeding continues, angiography may be performed to guide catheter placement for infusing vasopressin into the bleeding vessel.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Esophageal diverticula:
Treatment
(Handbook of Diseases)
Treatment depends on the type of diverticulum. For example:
❑ A small, asymptomatic Zenker’s diverticulum may be observed. Treatment includes a bland diet, thorough chewing, and drinking water after eating to flush out the sac. Symptomatic patients may require surgery to remove the sac or to facilitate drainage. An esophagomyotomy to prevent recurrence is required in most cases.
❑ A midesophageal (traction) diverticulum seldom requires therapy except when esophagitis aggravates the risk of rupture. Then, treatment includes antacids and an antireflux regimen: keeping the head elevated, maintaining an upright position for 2 hours after eating, eating small meals, controlling chronic coughing, and avoiding constrictive clothing.
❑ Epiphrenic diverticulum requires treatment of accompanying motor disorders, such as achalasia, by repeated dilatations of the esophagus, of acute spasm by anticholinergic administration and diverticulum excision, and of dysphagia or severe pain by surgical excision; if there’s an associated hiatal hernia or incompetent lower esoph-ageal sphincter, an antireflux operation is performed. Calcium channel blockers may be used to relax smooth muscles, decrease esophageal pressure, and improve swallowing.
❑ Depending on the patient’s nutritional status, treatment may also include insertion of a nasogastric tube (passed carefully to prevent perforation) and tube feedings to prepare for the stress of surgery.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Diverticular disease is a common colon disorder, affecting approximately 50 percent of people in the United States by the age of 60. Few people,...
A tiny camera called laparoscope can be used to peek inside the body and diagnose disease. Learn how this minimally invasive technique is now being...
Stress takes its toll by making us anxious, depressed and not able to function as fully as we'd like. What many don't know is that stress can...
Sleep is necessary to feel refreshed, but now we know sleep actually impacts the way the body functions. Sleeping poorly can affect how often you get...
See full list of 4 related videos
» Next page: Doctors and Medical Specialists for Diverticular Disease
Rate This Website
What do you think about the features of this website?
Take our user survey and have your say:
Website User Survey
Medical Tools & Articles:
Next articles:
Tools & Services:
Medical Articles:
Forums & Message Boards
- Ask or answer a question at the Boards:
