Diverticulosis, a common condition that causes small pouches in the walls of the intestines, is usually harmless. But sometimes, the pouches become inflamed and infected and colon surgery is necessary.
Unfortunately, like many medical conditions, it primarily affects seniors. By age 85, more than 65 percent of people are affected.
Managing Diverticulitis
“The little pouches that form in the wall of the colon are very common,” says New Jersey laparoscopic and general surgeon Dr. Seun Sowemimo of Prime Surgicare.
Dr. Seun maintains that one of the best defenses against aggravating these sacs is to consistently consume a diet that is rich in fiber.
Uncomplicated vs. Complicated: The 2 Camps of Diverticulitis
Most patients with acute uncomplicated diverticulitis respond to medical management and lifestyle changes, and will therefore not require surgery.
However, complicated diverticulitis often requires colon surgery. This is especially true if the patient:
- does not respond successfully to lifestyle changes and medication
- has recurrent attacks or a worsening condition
- experiences serious complications ─ such as perforation with diffuse peritonitis, localized abscess, fistula formation and/or bowel obstruction
Bowel Resection or Partial Colectomy
Surgery on a diseased colon may also be referred to as a bowel resection, also called partial colectomy, which removes a diseased or damaged part of the colon or rectum.
Bowel resection can be done for many diseases that affect the colon, such as colorectal cancer, diverticulitis, or Crohn’s disease.
The Good News About Colon Surgery Today
In the majority of cases where colon surgery is necessary, the operation can be performed using minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery, which means less hospital time, smaller incisions and less pain for patients.
Dr. Seun specializes in laparoscopic colon surgery, which can generally be performed using only three small incisions the width of a pencil and a two-inch cut to remove diseased tissue and inflamed sacs.
This lower-risk surgical procedure can also be used to remove parts of the colon for colon cancer or large polyps.
One of Prime Surgicare’s patients, Karin Lynn, discusses her bout with diverticulitis in this post.
About Dr. Seun Sowemimo, MD, FACS
Dr. Seun is a top NJ bariatric surgeon and the medical director at Prime Surgicare, with offices in Freehold serving Monmouth and Ocean counties. He is board-certified, Columbia and Yale University fellowship-trained in advanced laparoscopic, bariatric and general surgery.
To learn more, visit his YouTube channel or call Prime Surgicare at (732)-982-2002.