Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis

A Rarely Known Anatomical Changes of The Colon

Abstract

Diverticulitis is a gastrointestinal anatomical changes  that usually happens in the colon wall. This condition happens in 10-25% in patients with diverticulosis. The classification of the disease can be divided into acute, chronic, complicated, and uncomplicated. Diverticulitis happens commonly in men than women. The pathophysiology of diverticulitis is when the diverticula of the colon become inflamed. Inflammation of the diverticula happens when a small and hard feces pass through the large intestine. People with diverticulitis usually experience intermittent abdominal pain in the left lower quadrant. However, the abdominal pain can also occur in the right lower quadrant based on diverticulitis in Asian population. Constipation and diarrhea also often happen. Subsequently, on physical evaluation tenderness to palpation in the inflamed quadrant of the abdomen. Diverticulitis can be diagnosed clinically based on history and physical examination. However, the result can be inaccurate in 24-68% of cases because the clinical manifestations may be similar to other differential diagnoses. Therefore, laboratory and radiological tests are really important to show an accurate result. Laboratory test commonly finds leukocytosis, elevation in erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP). The radiological choice to diagnose diverticulitis are CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis, USG, and MRI. Management for diverticulitis without complication is antibiotic therapy. Meanwhile if the antibiotic therapy cannot cope with the diverticulitis, surgery may be performed.