Diverticular Disease

Treatment Options

Mild episodes usually respond to antibiotics. Many episodes do not recur.

Patients with repeated episodes or a severe attack may need surgery. Surgery is usually not necessary but is sometimes performed in patients with severe or frequent complications. Often the bowel can be joined together immediately. If there is an infection a temporary connection between the bowel and the skin (colostomy) is formed to avoid connecting infected bowel. This surgery can be reversed at a later operation when the bowel is reconnected. The long term outlook is good.