More than half of the population suffers from diverticula but only a small part will suffer complications. Dr. De Oca, specialist in Coloproctology at Mi Tres Torres and specialist in General and Digestive Surgery at the University Hospital of Bellvitge, explains the importance of taking care of the diet in this disease.
Diverticulitis is an acute inflammatory process that usually affects a part of the large intestine where there is an over-infection of the diverticula present there.
What are intestinal diverticula and what complications can occur?
More than half of the adult population has diverticula in the colon although only a very small percentage will develop complications, such as diverticulitis. Diverticula are small pouches ranging from 5 to 20 mm in diameter that emerge from the colon wall through very narrow orifices and are formed by an excess of pressure inside the colon. The organic matter contained in the diverticula can become infected, giving rise to diverticulitis. The colon wall becomes inflamed and the diverticula can rupture, forming an abscess or perforating the colon. When the inflammation is important, it can affect neighboring organs such as the urinary bladder, with which it can establish a pathological communication. Less frequently, bleeding of the diverticula occurs, which is manifested by the presence of red blood in the stool.
Symptoms that the patient with diverticulitis will notice.
Since most diverticulitis occurs in the left colon, the patient suffers from pain in the lower left quadrant of the abdomen. On other occasions the pain may be localized in different areas, depending on the location of the disease. Depending on the severity of the diverticulitis, the pain may be accompanied by fever and important analytical alterations.
Relationship of diverticulitis with other intestinal diseases: importance of fiber intake
A diet poor in fiber is one of the main causes of the appearance of diverticula. This is why this disease is extremely rare in Africa. The lack of fiber means that the colon has to develop more force to push the stool through. As a result, the colon wall becomes thickened and the increased internal pressure causes diverticula to develop. Diverticular disease can coexist with other pathologies such as irritable bowel, flora disorders and even colorectal cancer.
How to treat diverticulitis
Once the clinical and radiological diagnosis has been established by the specialist in Coloproctology, acute diverticulitis is initially treated with conservative measures but under close medical supervision. Hospitalization is left to medical discretion, depending on the severity of the condition. A restrictive diet associated with antibiotics and adequate hydration is the first line of treatment. Surgery is reserved for complicated cases: perforation with peritonitis, fistulas or hemorrhage. Occasionally, repeated cases of diverticulitis are also an indication for surgery.
Recommended diet for patients with diverticulitis
The patient, once discharged from the hospital, should follow a diet low in rediduosity for the time established by the physician. Once the inflammatory phase is overcome, the diet will be modified towards a high fiber content, which may prevent the occurrence of another episode of diverticulitis.