Diverticula are small pouches that form in the wall of your colon, and about 30% of Americans have them by age 50. Diverticula alone don’t necessarily cause noticeable symptoms, but inflamed or infected diverticula can develop into diverticulitis — a condition with symptoms like significant abdominal pain, fever, nausea, and changes in bowel habits.
You can often manage mild cases of diverticulitis with antibiotics, diet changes, and rest, but some people develop chronic or severe symptoms. In these cases, diverticulitis surgery may be a good option to improve your health and prevent further complications.
Elvira Klause, MD, FACS, and our team specialize in safe, effective abdominal surgery for people with complex or recurrent diverticulitis. Here’s what you need to know about when surgery might be a good option and what the process looks like from start to finish.
Not all cases of diverticulitis require surgery. Dr. Klause can help you weigh the pros and cons of different treatment options. In general, we recommend considering surgery if:
The most common surgery for diverticulitis is colon resection, also known as a colectomy. This procedure involves removing the diseased portion of your colon and reconnecting the healthy ends.
Before we schedule your procedure, you meet with Dr. Klause to review your medical history, imaging, and lab results. We might order a colonoscopy or CT scan if you haven’t already had these tests done.
Preparation ahead of diverticulitis surgery can include bowel cleansing and temporarily stopping certain medications, like blood thinners. If you move ahead with surgery, we give you detailed preoperative instructions and make sure you feel informed and supported every step of the way.
We might recommend scheduling diverticulitis surgery for a time when you’re not actively sick to give your body the best chance for a smooth recovery.
We do diverticulitis surgeries under general anesthesia, so you won’t be awake during the procedure. Whenever possible, we use minimally invasive techniques like laparoscopic or robotic-assisted surgery to reduce pain and speed up healing.
We start by making small incisions in your abdomen, then Dr. Klause removes the damaged section of your colon and reconnects the healthy ends in a process called anastomosis.
If the inflammation is severe or there’s infection present, you may need a temporary colostomy, but we may be able to reverse it later after your body has had the chance to heal.
Recovery time varies depending on your overall health and the complexity of your surgery. We can discuss what to expect ahead of time. Most patients stay in the hospital for a few days, where your care team manages pain, monitors healing, and helps you gradually return to eating and moving.
When you go home, we encourage you to walk daily and follow a diet that supports smooth digestion and healing. Full recovery can take several weeks, but a lot of people find that surgery significantly improves their quality of life by eliminating recurring pain, infections, and uncertainty.
Facing abdominal surgery can feel overwhelming, but we’re here to answer your questions and provide compassionate, personalized care backed by years of surgical expertise. If you’ve been struggling with frequent or severe diverticulitis, schedule a consultation to learn whether surgery is right for you — and what life could look like on the other side of healing.
Call our Laguna Hills, California, office at 949-245-6910 or request an appointment online now.
