(GP)

Overview

• Any clinical state caused by symptoms pertaining to colonic diverticula (outpouching of the colonic mucosa)
  • Diverticulosis → presence of diverticula in colon. Usually don't cause symptoms and don't need to be treated. May have blood in stools. Can lead to diverticulitis.
  • Diverticular Disease → symptomatic diverticulosis associated with complications (haemorrhage, infection)
  • Diverticulitis → inflammation in one or more of the diverticula (get fever, malaise etc)
• Most commonly found in sigmoid colon and then descending colon
• Risk Factors → age >50 yrs (decreased mechanical strength of colonic walls), low dietary fibre, constipation, diet rich in salt + meat + sugar, obesity, NSAID & Opioid use, smoking

Making Diagnosis

Clinical Features:

• LLQ Abdominal Pain → severe
• Change in bowel habit → constipation (more common than diarrhoea)
• Rectal Bleeding
• Nausea & Vomiting
• Leukocytosis → indication of acute diverticulitis
• Fever → indicated diverticulitis
• Guarding & Tenderness in LLQ → acute diverticulitis

Investigations: