Diverticulitis

Waiting a long time before considering surgery as an option for treating diverticulitis can lead to dangerous and painful consequences. If you have recently been diagnosed and your condition is severe and recurrent, you may need to have surgery as soon as possible.

Ask your GP for a referral to see one of our experienced surgeons at Sunnybank Surgical to discuss your options.

What is diverticulitis?

Diverticular disease is a condition that affects the colon (large intestine). Small pouches called diverticula form in weak spots of the colon wall. Often food and bacteria can get stuck in the pouches, causing them to become inflamed or infected. Symptoms range between mild and severe and include abdominal pain, often on the lower left side, fever, nausea, bloating and constipation.

Do I need surgery for diverticulitis?

A bout of diverticulitis can be very painful. Tests arranged by your GP may indicate whether you have diverticulitis or you may be referred to have a colonoscopy by specialist Colorectal Surgeon to confirm the diagnosis and exclude other rare causes of similar symptoms such as colon cancer.

When symptoms are mild, your GP will usually prescribe oral antibiotics and advise a special diet to reduce irritation and promote healing. You may be admitted to hospital for monitoring and treatment with IV antibiotics.

In some cases of severe diverticulitis, symptoms progress quickly. Without treatment, an attack can lead to serious complications. An abscess can form in the wall of the colon. The colon can rupture or form a fistula between the colon and another organ.  

In patients who have recurrent diverticulitis, long standing repeated inflammation result in narrowing of the lumen in the colon. This results in a narrow channel where stools may have trouble passing through. Over time, difficulties with defecation occur. Serious problems can arise from diverticular stricture to cause large bowel obstruction which becomes a surgical emergency.

How quickly should I have surgery for diverticulitis?

While following the usual treatment protocols (taking prescribed antibiotics, paracetamol, drinking fluids and avoiding solid food) will help alleviate your symptoms, repeated diverticulitis attacks can lead to a build-up of scar tissue. This may narrow the colon and eventually cause large bowel obstruction. Surgery can be very effective at preventing your diverticulitis from becoming more severe. It will improve your ability to empty your bowels and remove the sensation of incomplete defecation – or feeling like you have not emptied your bowels fully.  

What surgery is recommended for diverticulitis?

The most common procedure used to treat diverticulitis is a bowel resection with primary anastomosis. In this procedure, any infected colon is removed (colectomy). The two healthy pieces from either side of the infected area (anastomosis) are then attached to form a repaired section.  

If there’s too much inflammation, your surgeon may perform a bowel resection and connect your bowel through an opening in your abdomen (colostomy) or divert faecal flow by formation of an ileostomy. This stoma (colostomy / ileostomy) procedure is temporary and following recovery, a reversal of stoma can be planned.

What if I need emergency surgery for diverticulitis?

If you have been advised that your diverticulitis is severe or life-threatening, you will need surgery as soon as possible. For example, when the colon has ruptured, this is called peritonitis and requires emergency surgery. As a private patient, you can request that diverticulitis surgery is performed by one of our surgeons at Sunnybank Private Hospital, Mater Private Hospital Redlands or Mater Private Hospital South Brisbane. Ask your GP for a referral or speak to your consulting doctors in the emergency department.