In general, treatment depends on the severity of its signs and symptoms, and if this is your first attack of diverticulitis. If your symptoms are mild, a liquid diet or low in fiber and antibiotics may be just what you need. But if you are at risk of complications or recurrent attacks of diverticulitis, you may need more advanced care.
Nursing home
If your condition requires care at home, waiting to rest and eat a liquid diet for a few days for your infection can heal. Once your symptoms improve - usually within three days - you can gradually add fiber-rich foods such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables to your diet.
Also, your doctor will probably prescribe antibiotics to help kill bacteria that cause infection. Even if you start to feel better, be sure to complete your course of medication. Stopping too soon can cause the infection to return or could contribute to antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
If you have moderate or severe pain, your doctor may recommend a nonprescription pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others). The doctor may also prescribe a more powerful analgesic, although these drugs tend to be constipating and may aggravate the problem.
Hospitalization
If you have a more serious crisis that includes or threatening bowel obstruction or peritonitis, or who have developed a complication of diverticulitis, such as an abscess, you may need to be hospitalized to receive antibiotics intravenously.
If you develop an abscess, you may need to be drained. This can be done by inserting a needle through the skin, which is guided by ultrasound or CT scan. A catheter is then placed to drain the abscess. This catheter may be necessary to stay in place while you are being treated with antibiotics. Once you have recovered, bowel resection may be necessary.
Surgery
If you have a perforation, abscess, fistula or diverticulitis, recurring, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove the diseased colon. There are two types of intervention:
Primary bowel resection. In this procedure, the surgeon removes the diseased portion of intestine and then reconnects the healthy segments of the colon (anastomosis). This allows you to have normal stools. Depending on the amount of inflammation, you may have open (traditional) or laparoscopic surgery. With open surgery, the surgeon makes a long incision in the abdomen, while laparoscopic surgery is performed by three or four small incisions. Recovery is generally faster and faster with laparoscopic surgery.
Bowel resection with colostomy. This surgery may be necessary if you have inflammation in your colon so it is not possible to connect your colon and rectum. During a colostomy, your surgeon makes an opening (stoma) in the abdominal wall. The affected part of your colon is then connected to the stoma, and waste passes through the opening into a bag. Several months later - when the inflammation has healed - your surgeon may be able to perform a second surgery to restore your colon and rectum.
Nursing home
If your condition requires care at home, waiting to rest and eat a liquid diet for a few days for your infection can heal. Once your symptoms improve - usually within three days - you can gradually add fiber-rich foods such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables to your diet.
Also, your doctor will probably prescribe antibiotics to help kill bacteria that cause infection. Even if you start to feel better, be sure to complete your course of medication. Stopping too soon can cause the infection to return or could contribute to antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
If you have moderate or severe pain, your doctor may recommend a nonprescription pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others). The doctor may also prescribe a more powerful analgesic, although these drugs tend to be constipating and may aggravate the problem.
Hospitalization
If you have a more serious crisis that includes or threatening bowel obstruction or peritonitis, or who have developed a complication of diverticulitis, such as an abscess, you may need to be hospitalized to receive antibiotics intravenously.
If you develop an abscess, you may need to be drained. This can be done by inserting a needle through the skin, which is guided by ultrasound or CT scan. A catheter is then placed to drain the abscess. This catheter may be necessary to stay in place while you are being treated with antibiotics. Once you have recovered, bowel resection may be necessary.
Surgery
If you have a perforation, abscess, fistula or diverticulitis, recurring, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove the diseased colon. There are two types of intervention:
Primary bowel resection. In this procedure, the surgeon removes the diseased portion of intestine and then reconnects the healthy segments of the colon (anastomosis). This allows you to have normal stools. Depending on the amount of inflammation, you may have open (traditional) or laparoscopic surgery. With open surgery, the surgeon makes a long incision in the abdomen, while laparoscopic surgery is performed by three or four small incisions. Recovery is generally faster and faster with laparoscopic surgery.
Bowel resection with colostomy. This surgery may be necessary if you have inflammation in your colon so it is not possible to connect your colon and rectum. During a colostomy, your surgeon makes an opening (stoma) in the abdominal wall. The affected part of your colon is then connected to the stoma, and waste passes through the opening into a bag. Several months later - when the inflammation has healed - your surgeon may be able to perform a second surgery to restore your colon and rectum.
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