Week 5 - Diverticular Disease Flashcards
what is a diverticulum
- an outpouching of the mucosa thru the circular sm. m of the intestinal wall
what are diverticula found?
- can occur at any point in the GI tract
- most commonly found in sigmoid colon
what are the 2 forms of diverticular disease
- diverticulosis
2. diverticulitis
what is diverticiulosis
- prescence of multiple noninflamed diverticula
what is diverticulitis
- inflammation of the diverticula
what can contribute to the cause of diverticular disease (1)
- deficiency in dietary fiber
what causes diverticulitis
- retention of stool and bacteria in the diverticulum
what does the retention of stool in the outpouching in diverticulitis cause
- a fecalith (hardened mass)
what does diverticulitis lead to (5)
- inflammation spreads to surround tissues
- edema
- abscesses
- perforations
- peritonitis
what are symptoms of diverticulosis (3)
- often asymptomatic
- crampy abdominal pain in LLQ that is relieved by passing gas or a BM
- alternating constipation and diarrhea
what are symptoms of diverticulitis (7)
- abdominal pain localized over the involved area of the colon
- tender LLQ mass felt on palpation
- fever
- chills
- nausea
- anorexia
- elevated WBC
what are complications of diverticulitis (6)
- perforation w peritonitis
- abscess
- fistula formation
- bowel obstruction (d/t inflammation and scarring)
- ureteral obstruction
- bleeding
what can be used to diagnose diverticular disease (6)
- CT scan w oral contrast
- CBC
- urinalysis
- FOBT
- barium enema (determine narrowing or obstruction of colonic lumen)
- colonoscopy
a pt with acute diverticulitis should not have…
- barium enema d/t or colonoscopy d/t risk of perforation and peritonitis
how is diverticular disease treated (6)
- high fiber diet
- rest the bowel –> NPO with IV fluid
- observe for signs of peritonitis
- broad spectrum ab
- signs of infection (temp, WBC)
- possible surgery
why is surgical intervention sometimes required w diverticular disease (3)
- drain abscesses
- resect an obstructing inflammatory mass
- resect a perforated segment
what surgical procedures are often used for treatment of diverticular disease
- resection of involved colon w a temporary diverting colostomy
