Diverticulitis
General Surgery
When gastrointestinal motility is weakened, causing constipation, the pressure in the large intestine increases during defecation, causing the intestinal mucosa to be squeezed out of the muscle layer, forming a small bag (diverticulum). Diverticulitis occurs when faeces fall into the diverticulum and become faecal stones, which then irritate surrounding tissues, cause intestinal bacterial infection, and lead to inflammation of the mucosal wall.
Diagnosis
Diverticula will not cause noticeable symptoms; at most, they will cause mild discomfort, such as abdominal pain, bloating, and irregular bowel movements. Patients with sizeable intestinal diverticulitis usually do not have severe sequelae for the first infection. Once Diverticulitis occurs, patients most often experience lower abdominal pain and other common symptoms of intestinal infection, including fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, and constipation, which sometimes affect the urinary system and cause frequent urination.
Once Diverticulitis occurs, patients most often experience lower abdominal pain and other common symptoms of intestinal infection, including fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, and constipation, which sometimes affect the urinary system and cause frequent urination., if it is repeated infection, colon abscess or colon perforation may occur, which may cause severe symptoms of bleeding and infection and may cause Peritonitis or systemic infection is potentially fatal and requires surgical treatment.
Factors
The leading cause of acute ventriculitis is that faeces get stuck in the diverticulum, causing infection. Possible factors that may lead to homelessness include:
Age | As we age, the intestinal wall becomes more fragile, and diverticula are more likely to form, thus increasing the risk of acute ventriculitis. |
Genetics | Foreign medical research has found that the formation of large intestinal diverticula may be related to genetic genes. |
Insufficient Dietary Fibre | Insufficient fibre intake can easily lead to constipation. If the stool is dry and complex, defecating takes more effort. The pressure generated by squeezing the abdominal cavity can easily cause diverticula to form in the weaker parts of the colon (the central part of the large intestine) wall. If faeces fall into the diverticulum, it will hinder the blood circulation of the diverticulum and cause an inflammatory reaction. |
Obesity | Foreign medical research has regarded obesity as a significant risk factor which increases the probability of acute compartment inflammation and intestinal bleeding. |
Smoking | Smoking increases the likelihood and severity of acute compartment inflammation. |
Drug use | Anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin increase the chance of acute compartment inflammation, while the use of opioid analgesics and steroid drugs increases the likelihood of intestinal perforation. |
Lack of vitamin D | Current research points out that the body content of vitamin D in patients with acute ventricular inflammation is often low, and it is currently believed that it may be a predisposing factor. |
Diagnosis and Treaments
Diagnosis
Doctors usually conduct a preliminary examination by understanding the medical history, symptoms, and medication use. They may also perform a digital anal investigation to check for bleeding and pain in the large intestine. Since it is difficult to distinguish between diverticulitis and other intestinal diseases, doctors may also use The following testing tools to help rule out some possible causes:
Blood Test | Components or enzymes in the blood can help eliminate liver, kidney, and other diseases caused by anaemia. |
Imaging Examination | An initial examination involves an abdominal ultrasound or CT Scan. |
⚠ Barium X-ray and colonoscopy are unsuitable for diverticulitis because invasive colonoscopy may cause diverticula to rupture and cause more severe infection. |
Treatments
Different treatments are depending on the severity of symptoms:
- Conservative treatment: For most simple diverticulosis, conservative treatment is generally adopted, including temporary fasting, intravenous drip infusion, and injection of antibiotics.
- Surgical treatment: Patients with recurrent or diverticulitis need surgery to remove part of the intestine with diverticula to prevent further deterioration of the condition.
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