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diverticulosis-vs-diverticulitis-distinguishing-features

Diverticulosis vs. Diverticulitis: Distinguishing features Authors: Sahil Prabhnoor Sidhu, Vadim Iablokov, Vina Fan Reviewers: Brandon Hisey, Laura Byford-Richardson, Raafi Ali Dr. Sylvain Coderre* * MD at time of publication Local inflammation Diverticulitis Inflammation of diverticuli Conditions causing inherent weakness in bowel wall, i.e. aging, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Marfan syndrome Risk factors (i.e. low fiber diet, obesity, inactivity, smoking) contributing to reduced gut motility ↑Intraluminal pressure in the colon Herniation of colonic mucosa and submucosa through circular muscle at points of weakness to form outpouchings Diverticulosis Presence of outpouchings in the colon (diverticuli) Note: In Western populations, most diverticulosis is left-sided, whereas in Asian populations, these outpouchings are more often right-sided. Mucosal abrasion or micro-perforation by ↑ intraluminal pressure or dense food particles Bacterial overgrowth, dysbiosis and passage into the lamina propria Feces collects in diverticuli Gut bacteria metabolize undigested material and produce gas Stretching of colon Bloating wall irritates and visceral afferent flatulence nerves Episodic abdominal discomfort and cramping Blood vessels in the mucosa and submucosa (vasa recta) are stretched over the diverticuli, and may rupture from ↑ pressure Diverticular bleed Painless hematochezia (passage of fresh blood from the rectum) Inflammatory cytokines activate clotting factors Clotting of blood in vessels supplying diverticula Inflammatory cytokine release (IL-6, TNF-α) Cytokines enter systemic circulation Edema in the bowel wall Irritation of adjacent parietal peritoneum and somatic nerves Left lower quadrant (LLQ) pain, guarding Small abrasions are walled off by pericolic fat and mesentery ↑WBC Fever Inflammation may spread to nearby organs, leading to ulceration and abnormal connections between organs Pericolic abscess No hematochezia Local ischemia and focal necrosis resulting in loss of integrity of the bowel wall Perforation Generalized peritonitis Colonic obstruction (rare) Fistulae (rare): i.e. colovesical, coloenteric Stricture/fibros is formation with healing Legend: Pathophysiology Mechanism Sign/Symptom/Lab Finding Complications Published October 12, 2016; Updated July 30, 2023 on www.thecalgaryguide.com