Diverticular Disease

What it is

Diverticula are small pouches that form in the wall of the large intestine, mainly in the sigmoid colon, and become more common with age. Most people with diverticula have no symptoms, but some develop diverticulitis, the inflammation or infection of a diverticulum, with abdominal pain, usually on the left side, fever and a change in bowel habits, or diverticular bleeding. At Femi Saúde, the coloproctology team provides guidance on prevention with a high-fiber diet, treats diverticulitis episodes according to severity, monitors recovery with colonoscopy when indicated, and assesses the need for surgery in complicated or recurrent cases, with an approach that prioritizes conservative treatment whenever it is safe.

Most common symptoms

• Persistent abdominal pain on the left side
• Fever, chills and general malaise
• A change in bowel habits
• Nausea and loss of appetite
• Heavy, painless intestinal bleeding
• Abdominal bloating and excess gas

Causes and risk factors

• A diet low in fiber
• Aging and weakening of the bowel wall
• Chronic constipation and straining during bowel movements
• A sedentary lifestyle and obesity
• Smoking and use of anti-inflammatory drugs

How it is diagnosed

Symptom-free diverticula are usually discovered incidentally during screening colonoscopies. When diverticulitis is suspected, a contrast-enhanced abdominal CT scan is the exam of choice: it confirms the inflammation, assesses its extent and identifies complications such as an abscess or perforation. Blood tests show the degree of inflammation. Colonoscopy is avoided during the acute phase, but is recommended a few weeks after the episode to rule out other conditions, such as tumors, which can have a similar presentation.

How we treat it at Femi Saúde

In uncomplicated diverticular disease, the focus is on prevention: a high-fiber diet, hydration, physical activity and constipation control. Mild diverticulitis can be treated at home with a light diet, observation and, in selected cases, antibiotics. Episodes with high fever, intense pain, an abscess or perforation require hospitalization, intravenous antibiotics and, at times, drainage or surgery. In recurrent, complicated cases or those with fistulas, the coloproctology team at Femi Saúde assesses the need for elective surgery, usually by laparoscopy, always weighing the risk against the impact on quality of life.

What we offer