Generally presents with left lower quadrant pain. Asian patients have predominantly right-sided diverticula and will usually present with right lower quadrant pain.[1]
Pain may be intermittent or constant and may be associated with a change in bowel habits.
Fever and tachycardia are present in most patients; hypotension and shock are unusual.
Anorexia, nausea and vomiting may occur.
Examination usually reveals localised tenderness and, occasionally, a palpable mass. Bowel sounds are often reduced but may be normal in mild cases or increased with obstruction.
Rectal examination may reveal tenderness or a mass, especially with a low-lying pelvic abscess.
One third of patients who develop diverticulitis will develop further complications (perforation, abscess, fistula, stricture/obstruction):[2]
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Colovesicular fistulas often present with pneumaturia and faecaluria. The passage of stool or flatus via the vagina is pathognomonic of a colovaginal fistula, which may also present with frequent vaginal infections or copious vaginal discharge.
Haemorrhage
Diverticular bleeding is a common cause of lower gastrointestinal haemorrhage.[6] Severe haemorrhage can arise in 3-5% of patients with diverticulosis. The site of bleeding may more often be located in the proximal colon.[1]
Presentation is usually abrupt painless bleeding. The patient may have mild lower abdominal cramps or the urge to defecate, followed by passage of a large amount of red or maroon blood or clots. Melaena may occur but is uncommon.
Haemorrhage ceases spontaneously in 70-80% of patients. Re-bleeding rates range from 22-38%.[1]
Differential diagnosis
Other causes of acute abdominal pain (including other abdominal, urological, and gynaecological causes) must be considered and excluded.
Symptomatic diverticular disease may closely resemble irritable bowel
HISTORY OF PRESENT ILLNESS: This 46-year-old gentleman with past medical history significant only for degenerative disease of the bilateral hips, secondary to arthritis, presents to the emergency room after having had three days of abdominal pain. It initially started three days ago and was a generalized vague abdominal complaint. Earlier this morning, the pain localized and radiated to the right lower quadrant. He had some nausea without emesis. He was able to tolerate p.o. earlier around
HISTORY OF PRESENT ILLNESS: This 46-year old gentleman with past medical history significant only for degenerative disease of the bilateral hips, secondary to arthritis presents to the emergency room after having had 3 days of abdominal pain. It initially started 3 days ago and was a generalized vague abdominal complaint. Earlier this morning the pain localized and radiated to the right lower quadrant. He had some nausea without emesis. He was able to tolerate p.o earlier around 6am, but he now
History of Present Illness: The patient is a 27-year-old male complaining of right lower-quadrant abdominal pain, nausea, and
History of Present Illness: The patient is a 27-year-old male complaining of right lower-quadrant abdominal pain, nausea, and
When pockets develop in the wall of the colon, this is called diverticulosis. The pockets that form are called diverticula; the pockets pick up fecal matter as the body’s waste is propelled through the colon.
DS is a 57-year-old white female whit a history of diverticulitis who presents to the clinic for an evaluation of abdominal pain. She stated that she began experiencing left lower quadrant pain last night that worsened through the night and into this morning. The pain is described as dull, occasionally cramping, rated 7/10 in severity. The patient also stated that this pain is similar to previous episodes of diverticulitis. The patient stated that she took Gas-X this morning with little relief. She was able to move her bowels yesterday and this morning, both reportedly normal. The patient denied any fever, chills, chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, melena, hematochezia, or any other symptoms. At this time, there were
The inflammation in diverticulitis is believed to be the result of fecal material that gets trapped in a diverticulum. The resulting fecal stone, or fecalith, causes pressure and necrosis of the diverticulum. The inflammation progresses and perforates into the mucosa of the colon. A small perforation is easily treated with antibiotics. A large perforation may wall off and create an abscess which can erode into nearby structures such as the small bowel or bladder, anterior abdominal wall, and fecal peritonitis can occur. (textbook)
Pathophysiology: Diverticulitis, is characterized by inflamed diverticuli and increased luminal pressures that cause erosion of the bowel wall and thus microscopic or macroscopic perforation into the peritoneum. A localized abscess develops when the
Approximately 15% of those with diverticular disease are symptomatic, and of that group 15% will develop significant complications such as perforation as stated in a paper titled Treatment of Perforated Diverticulitis with Generalized Peritonitis: Past, Present, and Future (Vermeulen, Lange 2010).
The Disease have always been cured through the hospital system, medication, however, recently it has begun a movement stated we should depend less on our medication. Base on statics publish for the center for disease as of 2012, about half of all adults—117 million people—had one or more chronic health conditions. One of four adults had two or more chronic health conditions. Among those disease diversities is one the disease. Diverticulitis is a disease when pouches form in the wall of the colon. If these pouches get inflamed or infected, it is called diverticulitis. Therefore, diverticula have always been a serious disease in the United States; thus there has been several of a reason for causing the disease. Research has dictated
The symptoms include tenderness, cramps and pain in the lower abdomen, fever that are accompanied with chills, gas, a bloated feeling or stomach swelling, diarrhea or constipation, nausea, loss of appetite and rectum bleeding which is usually painless. It is evident that many people who are diagnosed with diverticular disease have little or no symptoms at all but those who do are recommended high-fiber diet plans or fiber supplements as treatment.
I was happy that I managed to rule out any distinct causes of the abdominal pain by performing the examination to collect data, analyse it, and use the results to make an appropriate decision (Schon, 1984). However, had I performed the examination without assistance I may not have gained all the information required to confirm diagnosis, as I did forget some aspects.
He was able to tolerate PO earlier around 6am. but now denies having an appetite. Patient had very small bowel movement earlier this morning that was not normal for him. He has not passes has the morning. 'he is voiding well. Denies fevers, chills or night sweats. The pain is localized to the RLQ without radiation at this point. He has never had a colonoscopy.
diverticulitis. The patient has no diet regimen, which may be the likely cause of his
The main symptom of this condition is pain in the lower abdomen, usually on one side of the body. The pain may come and go suddenly. Other symptoms may include: