Post
Operative Complications after Diverticulitis Surgery
What is Diverticulitis
Surgery?
Diverticulitis is a condition in the intestine where in the small bags
or pouches called diverticula become irritated and infected. The common
symptoms of Diverticulitis are diarrhoea or constipation, gas formation,
stomach cramps, Fever with chills, Vomiting, Loss of appetite. If a person
suffers from damage or fistula or diverticulitis that is recurring, then
Diverticulitis surgery is recommended by the Doctor.
Types of Diverticulitis Surgery
There are two different types of Diverticulitis surgery as listed below:
• Primary Bowel Resection: Only the diseased portion of the
intestine is surgically removed, and the unaffected parts are rejoined.
• Colostomy for Bowel Resection: In case of severe inflammation
in the intestine, rejoining the colon and rectum becomes difficult. During
the diverticulitis surgery, the infected parts are removed by separating
colon and rectum. After the inflammation is healed, the patient is re-operated
and the colon is attached to the rectum.
Diverticulitis Surgery Complications
Though Diverticulitis Surgery is highly essential to cure Diverticulitis,
undergoing this surgery has certain complications. The patient must know
the complications of this surgery before undergoing it. The major complications
of Diverticulitis Surgery are listed below:
• Post operative complications like bleeding, infection, or problems
from general anaesthesia may arise.
• Tear might happen in the colon.
• Area might get narrowed in the colon.
• The surgeon will not be able to decide whether it will be a simple
procedure or a two stage operation until the surgery has begun.
• In 12% of patients diverticulitis may recur.
• In some cases, after one stage of surgery, the patient may not
be able to undergo the second stage if the intestine does not recover
completely.
• In some cases, a seep out may develop at the joined sections of
the intestine. There is also a risk of ureters, bladder or blood vessels
injury after the operation.
• Patient may develop complications like vomiting, nausea and abdominal
cramps after the surgery. In few cases, the blood tests may reveal a complication
called C-Diff which is a bacterial disease.
• The surgery may lead to another complication termed as postoperative
ileus, wherein a section of the intestine gets paralysed and causes an
obstruction to the solid and liquid foods entering the intestine.
• Rarely there may be renal dysfunction which is a multi-organ dysfunction
syndrome leading to the death of the patient.
• As the usual patients for the surgery are elderly, risks like heart
attack, or lung infection are also present especially when the surgery
is done in an emergency
• It is very important to call the doctor if any new symptoms like
fever, severe cramps, swelling, bleeding etc are seen after the surgery.
