Diverticulitis Specialist

What is diverticulitis?

Diverticula are small sacs or pouches that form in the wall of your intestines, usually in the colon. If these sacs become infected or inflamed, the condition is known as diverticulitis.

Many people develop diverticula as they age, starting after 40, without experiencing symptoms. However, you may be at increased risk for the diverticula tearing and becoming inflamed or infected due to:

• Obesity
• Smoking
• Poor diet
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Use of certain medications
  
  

Without treatment, you may experience a worsening of your symptoms and complications, such as an abscess, bowel blockage, or peritonitis. Peritonitis is an infection that occurs when the contents of your intestines spill into your abdominal cavity, and it’s a medical emergency.

What are the symptoms of diverticulitis?

A hallmark symptom of diverticulitis is persistent pain in the left side of your abdomen. This pain can last for several days and be accompanied by:

• Fever
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Constipation
  
  

It’s important that you get a prompt medical diagnosis to confirm the root cause of your pain and fever and to prevent additional health complications, like abscesses and peritonitis.

How is diverticulitis treated?

Treatment for diverticulitis depends on the severity of your symptoms and may include:

Lifestyle modifications

The initial treatment for diverticulitis typically involves lifestyle and diet changes to reduce and prevent inflammation. This may involve following a liquid or low-fiber diet temporarily and limiting your activities to help your body heal.

Medications

If you have an existing infection of the diverticula, you need antibiotics and pain-relieving medications.

Minimally invasive surgery

When diverticulitis symptoms are severe or you have diverticula that bleed, Dr. Belizon may recommend surgery to remove the inflamed sacs and damaged parts of your colon. He uses minimally invasive surgery to remove these structures through small incisions.

Dr. Belizon inserts a special scope through the incision. This scope has an attached light and camera that provides him with a clear visual of the surgical site on an external monitor. Through the scope, he can insert specialized surgical tools to remove the inflamed sacs and surrounding tissue without causing unnecessary trauma to your body.

In some cases, Dr. Belizon may perform the surgery using the da VinciⓇ robot-assisted system

Following surgery, you may need medications to prevent infections and keep you comfortable. Dr. Belizon provides after-care information to help you reduce your risk for diverticulitis flare-ups, such as dietary modifications.

If you need help managing diverticulitis, schedule a consultation by calling Boca Care Surgical Associates of Palm Beach County or requesting an appointment online today.