Cecal Diverticulitis Definition, Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

The diverticulum refers to a mucosal pouch in the wall of the colon that looks like a tiny sac. Diverticulitis can be caused by diverticulum inflammation brought on by micro perforation or fecal material clogging. Most diverticula originate in the sigmoid colon, making the distal colon a common site for diverticular disease. The right side of the colon is typically less impacted, especially among Caucasians. Diverticula commonly appear near the ileocaecal valve and around the anterior wall of the caecum in the right colon.

The most typical symptoms of caecal diverticulitis include right lower quadrant pain, which may last for several days, and elevated inflammatory blood markers. There is a possibility that you will experience fever, nausea, and vomiting. The clinical assessment may demonstrate abdominal discomfort with a rebound in the lower right quadrant. Due to the fact that clinical data might apply to a wide variety of conditions, arriving at the right diagnosis with only this information can be challenging. When making a differential diagnosis with other illnesses, ultrasound may be helpful in demonstrating caecal wall inflammation. However, modest localized inflammation may go unnoticed. Consequently, the preferred imaging modality is the CT scan.

Cecal Diverticulitis Definition

Cecal diverticulitis is an inflammation of a small pouch or sac called a diverticulum in the cecum, which is the first part of the large intestine. The cecum can be found in the right lower abdominal region. Diverticula are common and generally do not cause any issues, but when they become inflamed, it might result in cecal diverticulitis. 

Cecal Diverticulitis Symptoms

Depending on the disease's severity, symptoms might vary, but the following are some of the typical signs and symptoms of the disease:

The pain may be continuous and last for several days. 

The pain usually manifests on the lower left side of the abdomen. However, there are occasions when the lower right side of the abdomen is more uncomfortable, and this is notably the case among people of Asian origin.

• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever
• Tenderness in the abdomen
• Constipation 
• Diarrhea

Cecal Diverticulitis Causes

Diverticula typically occurs when naturally weak areas of the colon succumb to strain. This results in the protrusion of marble-sized pouches from the colon wall. In most cases, diverticulitis of the cecum is brought on by an infection or an obstruction of the diverticulum. It's possible that bacteria or other microbes breach the intestinal wall and infect the diverticulum. The obstruction may be triggered by a foreign object, such as a food particle, or by a constriction of the diverticulum's aperture.

Cecal Diverticulitis Treatment

Your doctor will recommend an oral antibiotic if your diverticulitis is mild. Perforations and serious infections typically necessitate hospitalization for the administration of antibiotics intravenously (into a vein). You might also be fed through an IV to give your colon time to heal. A temporary colostomy may also be performed by your doctor to drain infected abscesses and relax the intestinal tract. Colostomy surgery involves making an incision in the colon (called a stoma) through which waste can exit the body into a bag placed on the abdomen's front. During a subsequent operation, this process might be reversed depending on the degree of recuperation.