alcohol colon pain

alcohol colon pain

Conservative Management of Diverticular Disease of Colon

Sometimes termed as “Left sided appendicitis”, diverticulosis of colon; may run relatively a benign course or exacerbate at some point of time to give rise to emergency situation. It is mostly due to segmentation and pressure build up following motility disorder of colon. It may also be congenital in nature. Mostly the left lower colon is involved, but it can affect any part and so much so, the whole colon.

It may cause;

• Discomfort in the abdomen, particularly in the left lower quadrant.
• Spasmodic pain in the abdomen.
• Loss of appetite.
• Constipation.
• Bloody motion.
• Blood and mucous motion.
• Tenismus.
• Fever.

In severe attack:

• Rigidity of the lower abdomen or whole abdomen.
• Fever.
• Sweating.
• Shock.

After physical examination, patient is subjected to investigations. Those can be;

• Complete blood count.
• Plain X-rays of abdomen to look for evidence of free gas in the abdominal cavity signifying hole in the affected part of colon.
• Ultrasound examination of abdomen to asses the severity and exclude other possible causes.
• CT scanning of abdomen to locate the pathology.
• Colonoscopy is usually deferred to a later date, after subsidence of acute attack; and is very much helpful in planning the treatment. Also an endoscopic biopsy can be taken from the affected area for study to rule out malignancy, though rarely seen in these cases.

Conservative treatment modality is applicable to less severe cases; and emergency or semi-elective treatment for more severe cases involving perforation, a hole in the affected part.

In conservative management;

• Diet per mouth is restricted or not allowed.
• Injectable antibiotic, preferably having good coverage for colon bacteria is chosen along with metronidazole.
• Intravenous nutrition and fluid management has to be instituted.
• Probiotics and prebiotics, the good bacteria administered through oral route.
• Narcotic analgesics administered for abdominal pain management.

With improvement in the condition gradual shifting to oral route of all the medications are allowed including food. If there is no improvement, and rather deterioration in the condition surgical options thought of.

Generally, a patient of diverticular disease of colon can be long term managed with;

• Avoiding non-residual diet. Residual diets including diet with high fiber content is to be preferred.
• Animal proteins which cause constipation and allow segmentation are best avoided.
• Physical exercise.
• Abstinence from alcohol.
• Some Yogic exercises are to be practiced.
• Good check of Diabetes is to be done if suffering from.

One can lead a reasonably good quality life, if the recommendations are followed.

About the Author

Dr. Prahallad Panda, Surgeon, Paradip Port Trust, Paradip, Odisha, India. Author of free medical blog ” From A Clinician’s Bioscope can be accessed from here”

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