Diverticulitis Specialist

Sonoran Surgical

General Surgeon & Colorectal Surgeons in Chandler, AZ, San Tan Valley, AZ, Mesa, AZ & Gilbert AZ

If you have diverticulitis, you may suffer from severe abdominal pain or find blood in your stool, although you may not have any symptoms at all. At Sonoran Surgical in Chandler, and San Tan Valley, Arizona, Aalok Sahai, MD, and Rohit K. Sahai, MD, diagnose and treat diverticulitis with expert minimally invasive surgeries. Call Sonoran Surgical or make an appointment online today.

Diverticulitis Q & A

What is diverticulitis?

As you age, the tissues in your body, including your intestinal muscles, can weaken. This weakness can lead to small pouches, known as diverticula, forming in your intestinal walls. When partially digested food gets stuck in these patches, it can lead to an infection known as diverticulitis.

What are the symptoms of diverticulitis?

Diverticulitis occurs most often in the lower part of your large intestine. Some of the most common symptoms of diverticulitis include:

Abdominal pain, cramping, and tenderness
Constipation
Diarrhea
Nausea and vomiting
Blood in your stool or rectal bleeding

You may also notice that your bowel movements change in frequency and consistency. However, you may not have any symptoms at all during the early stages of the disease.

How is diverticulitis diagnosed?

The doctors at Sonoran Surgical either diagnose diverticulitis during a routine exam or while testing to identify the cause of your symptoms. The doctors use a variety of diagnostic tools to diagnose diverticulitis including:

Blood, urine, and stool tests
X-rays
CT scans
Sigmoidoscopy
Colonoscopy
Barium enemas

Your doctor may also perform other tests such as pregnancy and liver function tests to rule out other conditions that can cause similar symptoms.

How is diverticulitis treated?

The doctors at Sonoran Surgical offer customized treatments for diverticulitis, depending on your symptoms and the severity of your condition. For example, if your diverticulitis is mild, your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic and a temporary liquid diet to rid your body of the infection and help your intestinal tract heal.

However, if your condition is more advanced, your doctor may suggest surgery to remove the damaged portion of your intestine. Depending on your particular situation, your surgeon may perform a primary bowel resection. During this procedure, he removes the damaged part of your colon before reattaching the healthy surrounding tissue to allow normal bowel function.

In other situations, your doctor may need to perform a bowel resection with a colostomy. During this procedure, after your surgeon removes the damaged part of your large intestine, he creates a stoma in your abdominal wall and attaches your large intestine. Your solid waste products then exit your body through the stoma.

If you’re concerned about diverticulitis, call Sonoran Surgical or schedule a consultation online today for expert diagnosis and treatment.