General description
Diverticular disease of the colon is a chronic disease in which saclike protrusions form through the muscular layer in the wall of the large intestine. The protrusions themselves form in the weak points of the intestinal wall, where the vessels pass through it. Usually the size of diverticula varies from 5 to 10 mm.
Diverticular disease includes:
- Diverticulosis – the presence of several diverticula in the intestine
- Diverticulitis – inflammation of the diverticulum
The prevalence of the diverticular disease among young people is very low – about 2-5%, obese men are most affected. With age, the risk of the disease increases and by the age of 70-80 reaches 65%. Up to 70 years, the incidence among men prevails over women.
Causes of diverticular disease of colon
The main causes of diverticular disease are:
- Dystrophic changes in the muscular wall of the large intestine;
- Change in her motility, weakness of the muscle component;
- Violation of the blood supply to the intestinal wall and the development of atherosclerosis with ischemic changes.
An increase in intra-intestinal pressure due to prolonged spasm, leading to a divergence of muscle fibers.
Diverticula are the final manifestation of the disease of the intestinal wall, atrophy and its expansion in sloping places.
There are some prerequisites for the development of diverticula in the colon:
- the presence of an outer muscle layer in the form of three stripes, contributing to the weakening of the intestine before external and internal influences.
- the presence of haustra, in which increased intra-intestinal pressure is generated.
Diverticular disease symptoms
Here are some diverticular disease symptoms:
- Periodic pain in the left iliac region, passing after the act of defecation. Also, pain can be in the mesogastrium and in the right iliac region;
- Bloating;
- Nausea;
- Belching with air, bitterness in the mouth;
- Alternating constipation and diarrhea.
Diagnosis
- General clinical analysis of blood, urine;
- Fecal analysis for coprogram;
- Biochemical blood test (liver tests, cholesterol, alkaline phosphatase);
- Ultrasound of the hepatobiliary system;
- EGDS;
- Colonoscopy;
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Diverticular disease treatment
The following groups of drugs are used to treat diverticular disease of colon:
- With pain syndromes (Papaverine hydrochloride, Galidor, Drotaverine);
- To enhance intestinal motility (Kalimin);
- For nausea (Cerucal);
- In case of dysbacteriosis (Bifidumbacterin);
Antibacterial agents are also used in the clinical picture of diverticulitis:
- metronidazole + biseptol
- metronidazole+ciprofloxacin
Diverticular disease Diet
Since diverticular disease is much more likely to occur in people who restrict their dietary intake of vegetables and fruits, all patients with diverticulosis should use foods high in plant fiber and pectin. Wheat bran is very useful (especially coarse bran), which significantly reduces the pressure inside the intestine and accelerates the speed of movement of the contents through the intestine.
Be sure to exclude all foods that cause increased gas formation (legumes, lentils, grapes, sauerkraut, butter and yeast dough, onions) and constipation (blueberries, rice). It is also advisable to exclude seeds, fruits with a large number of grains and excessively coarse fiber (persimmon, pineapple, turnip, radish, radish).
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