Pathophysiology of Diverticular Disease
Diverticular disease is a condition that most often affects the sigmoid colon and is characterized by a number of small pouches that extend to the surface of the colon. When all four layers of the colon are herniated, it is called a true diverticulum. Typically, diverticula are pseudodiverticula and involve only the mucosa and submucosa (Porth, 2011). The colon could have one diverticulum, or numerous diverticula.
The colon’s structure is different from that of the small intestine in that three long bands of muscle fibers run along its length. These muscle fibers are called teniae coli. The contraction of these long fibers, along with the circular muscle fibers, creates pouch-like large sacs called the …show more content…
A diet lacking fiber would lead to more water absorption and smaller, harder, and dry stools. These stools sit in the colon longer and require more contraction to expel, leading to higher lumen pressure (Meiner, 2004).
Usually the diverticula cause no symptoms. This condition of having asymptomatic pouches is called diverticulosis. However, when stool or undigested food is trapped in these small pouches and bacteria accumulate, it can lead to inflammation and a condition called diverticulitis. Acute diverticulitis can cause symptoms and lead to complications such as abscess formation, perforation, peritonitis, and …show more content…
is a 53 year old Caucasian male who was first diagnosed with diverticulitis in Spring, 2012. Two months prior to hospitalization, EG had started a new diet plan which included a fruit-based smoothie for breakfast daily. 24 hours prior to hospitalization, EG started having pain in the lower left abdomen, which would escalate from mild to severe pain every few minutes and then a pain-free period for about 30 minutes before the pain starts all over again. When the pain first started, EG noticed a little blood in the stool, but the amount of blood increased considerably, which led him to his primary doctor. The primary doctor directed him to the emergency room, and he was hospitalized for four
Diverticular disease is a condition that most often affects the sigmoid colon and is characterized by a number of small pouches that extend to the surface of the colon. When all four layers of the colon are herniated, it is called a true diverticulum. Typically, diverticula are pseudodiverticula and involve only the mucosa and submucosa (Porth, 2011). The colon could have one diverticulum, or numerous diverticula.
The colon’s structure is different from that of the small intestine in that three long bands of muscle fibers run along its length. These muscle fibers are called teniae coli. The contraction of these long fibers, along with the circular muscle fibers, creates pouch-like large sacs called the …show more content…
A diet lacking fiber would lead to more water absorption and smaller, harder, and dry stools. These stools sit in the colon longer and require more contraction to expel, leading to higher lumen pressure (Meiner, 2004).
Usually the diverticula cause no symptoms. This condition of having asymptomatic pouches is called diverticulosis. However, when stool or undigested food is trapped in these small pouches and bacteria accumulate, it can lead to inflammation and a condition called diverticulitis. Acute diverticulitis can cause symptoms and lead to complications such as abscess formation, perforation, peritonitis, and …show more content…
is a 53 year old Caucasian male who was first diagnosed with diverticulitis in Spring, 2012. Two months prior to hospitalization, EG had started a new diet plan which included a fruit-based smoothie for breakfast daily. 24 hours prior to hospitalization, EG started having pain in the lower left abdomen, which would escalate from mild to severe pain every few minutes and then a pain-free period for about 30 minutes before the pain starts all over again. When the pain first started, EG noticed a little blood in the stool, but the amount of blood increased considerably, which led him to his primary doctor. The primary doctor directed him to the emergency room, and he was hospitalized for four