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The colon, or large intestine, is a muscular tube that begins at the end of the small intestine and runs to the rectum. The colon absorbs water from liquid stool that is delivered to it from the small intestine.
Indications, part 1Diverticula are out-pouchings of the wall of the colon. They are thought to be the result of a diet low in fiber. By the age of 60, over half of all Americans have colonic diverticula.
Indications, part 2In most cases, diverticula go unnoticed. However, in a small percentage of patients, diverticula can cause problems. The most common problem is diverticulitis, which occurs when a small, hard piece of stool is trapped in the opening of the diverticula. This leads to inflammation and death of the segment of colon containing the diverticula.
Indications, part 3Diverticula can also bleed and cause significant blood loss from the gastrointestinal tract. Vessels overlying a diverticula are stretched until they break, causing bleeding into the colon. Blood is usually passed in the stool.
IncisionTreament of diverticulitis and diverticular bleeding involves surgical removal of the segment of colon containing the diverticula. While the patient is deep alseep and pain free (general anesthesia), an incision is made in the midline of the abdomen.
ProcedureAfter the diseased area is removed, the healthy ends of the colon are sewn back together. Occasionally, especially in cases of diverticulitis, where there is significant inflammation, a colostomy is performed. After the inflammation has resided, the colostomy is removed and the healthy ends of the colon are sewn back together.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 01/31/2011
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; George F Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
What else can I help you with?
Where does most diverticula take place?
Most diverticula are located in the sigmoid colon
Are diverticula the same as polyps?
No diverticula are outpouchings mostly from the colon and polyps are inward growths
Abnormal sidepocket in a hollow organ such as colon are?
diverticula
What is the cause of development of diverticula?
Diverticula are pouches that develop along the walls of the colon due to increased pressure and weakness in the colon wall. This can be caused by a low-fiber diet, which leads to constipation and increased pressure in the colon. Aging, genetics, and certain lifestyle factors can also contribute to the development of diverticula.
What is believed to promote the formation of diverticula?
Diverticula, which are little "weak spots" in the walls of the colon that often form little pouches, are often caused by a diet low in fiber. The lack of fiber means that the colon has to work harder to move contents along. This can often result in a weaker colon as a person ages, and thus diverticula can be formed in the walls of the sigmoid colon.
What is the medical term meaning pouch?
A diverticulum (plural diverticula) is an abnormal pouch found in the wall of a tubular organ. The esophagus and colon may have diverticula.
Presence of a number of diverticula in the colon?
Diverticulosis develops when the diverticula form in the wall of the large intestine. The pouches don't cause symptoms, but they may become infected, and that is when the symptoms occur.
What is the medical term meaning The presence of a number of diverticula in the colon?
Diverticulosis
Can diverticulitis form in the small intestine?
Diverticulitis primarily occurs in the large intestine (colon), where diverticula, or small pouches, can form due to increased pressure. While diverticula can also develop in the small intestine, this condition is much less common and is typically referred to as small intestinal diverticulosis. If inflammation occurs in these small intestinal diverticula, it can lead to diverticulitis, but this is rare compared to its occurrence in the colon.
What is the singular form of diverticula?
Diverticula
What is the singular of diverticula?
diverticula
What is the plural of diverticula?
diverticula is the plural of diverticulum.
