On the Arrowhead Hospital Campus
18699 North 67th Ave., Suite 280
Glendale, Arizona 85308
602-995-0822

Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis can cause painful inflammation in your colon (large bowel) that keeps coming back. If you’re suffering repeated attacks of diverticulitis, the board-certified Arizona Preferred Surgeons team in Glendale, Arizona, can help. They offer advanced, minimally invasive surgery to remove the diseased tissue and improve or eliminate your symptoms. Call their office today or book an appointment online to learn why you should choose Arizona Preferred Surgeons for your diverticulitis surgery.

Diverticulitis Q & A

What is diverticulitis?

Diverticulitis is a disease of the colon (large bowel). The problem starts when pouches develop in the colon wall. A pouch (diverticula) forms at a weak spot in the intestinal lining. When you have many pouches, it’s called diverticulosis.

Around half of the US population has diverticulosis by age 60, and most people have it by 80. Many don’t know, though, because they have no symptoms.

If the diverticula become inflamed or infected, the result is diverticulitis. You might experience few symptoms with a mild case of diverticulitis, but a more severe attack can cause:

  • Rectal bleeding
  • Bloating
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Weight changes
  • Pain in the lower abdomen
  • Changes in bowel habits

Mild diverticulitis is treatable with antibiotics. Changing your diet is also essential to reduce the risk of flare-ups.

When would I need surgery for diverticulitis?

You might need diverticulitis surgery if you suffer repeated flare-ups or develop complications like:

  • Abscesses
  • Perforations (tears in the gut lining)
  • Blockage in your bowel
  • Fistula (unnatural between body parts)

The Arizona Preferred Surgeons team has extensive experience in diverticulitis surgery.

What surgery might I need for diverticulitis?

The diverticulitis surgery you need depends on the reason for your operation. The Arizona Preferred Surgeons team can drain infected abscesses to relieve pain and heal the infection.

They can also create a stoma — an opening in the abdominal wall that empties waste from your intestine into an external bag (colostomy). A temporary colostomy gives the diseased intestine a rest and a chance to heal.

Your surgeon might suggest bowel resection if you have severe, repeated attacks of diverticulitis. This surgery involves removing the diseased section of the intestine. Your surgeon then reattaches the healthy pieces of the bowel.

What techniques are used in diverticulitis surgery?

The Arizona Preferred Surgeons team performs minimally invasive surgery for diverticulitis. Minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery uses small openings in your abdomen to access the intestine. Your surgeon inserts a laparoscope into one opening. The instrument has a camera that sends video of the intestine to a screen in the operating room.

Your surgeon uses the screen images to guide instruments that they insert through additional openings. This approach causes less tissue damage and pain, and you should make a faster recovery.

The Arizona Preferred Surgeons team also uses da Vinci® robotic surgery in suitable patients for even greater precision. Their skill and experience mean that patients don’t need a colostomy after diverticulitis surgery in all but the most critical cases.

To find out more about surgery for diverticulitis, call The Arizona Preferred Surgeons team today or book an appointment online.