Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis is most often diagnosed by CT scan, and always diagnosed prior to referral to a colon and rectal surgeon.

Colon and rectal surgeons at BWH offer a range of surgical and non-surgical procedures for treating diverticulitis, including:

Surgical Treatment

Patients with uncomplicated diverticulitis may be managed with bowel rest and antibiotics. As episodes become frequent and/or more complicated, elective resection may be advised to avoid further and potentially more involved episodes.

Patients with complicated episodes of diverticulitis, such as intra-abdominal abscess formation, fistulae formation or free perforation of the bowel, may require a colectomy. Most patients recover completely with resumption of normal bowel habits.

Non-Surgical Treatment

If diverticulitis symptoms are mild, your surgeon may recommend:

• High fiber diet: whole grains; fruit, such as berries, apples, and peaches; vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage, spinach, carrots, asparagus, and squash; beans
• Medications (to control pain and muscle spasms, for infection and inflammation)
• Resting the colon, with liquid diet

You will receive a thorough diagnostic examination to evaluate if you have diverticulitis and if surgery is needed. Careful monitoring and the involvement of an experienced colon and rectal surgeon are important to the successful outcome for patients with colorectal conditions.

If you are having surgery or a procedure, you will likely be scheduled for a visit to the Weiner Center for Preoperative Evaluation for pre-operative information and tests.

The day of surgery, you will be taken care of in the operating room by surgeons, anesthesiologists and nurses who specialize in diverticulitis surgery. After surgery, you will go to the post-surgical care unit where you will receive comprehensive care by an experienced surgical and nursing staff.

Learn more about your hospital stay and returning home.

Brigham and Women’s Hospital provides a multidisciplinary approach to patient care, collaborating with colleagues who have extensive experience in diagnosing and treating diverticulitis. In addition, patients have full access to BWH’s world-renowned academic medical community with its specialists and state-of-the-art facilities.

• Our General and Gastrointestinal Surgery Team
• Request General and Gastrointestinal Surgery Appointment
• General and Gastrointestinal Surgery Locations

Go to our health library to learn more about diverticulitis.

Visit the Kessler Health Education Library in the Bretholtz Center for Patients and Families to access computers and knowledgeable staff.

Visit the Weiner Center for Preoperative Evaluation.

Access a complete directory of patient and family services.