Know the Disease
What are the three clinical forms of diverticular disease?
What are diverticulosis, diverticulitis, and diverticular bleeding?
The hallmark symptom of diverticulitis is pain in which quadrant of the abdomen?
What is the left lower quadrant (LLQ)?
Infection from diverticulitis can spread and cause this full-body inflammatory condition.
What is sepsis?
What lab value is commonly elevated in patients with diverticulitis due to infection?
What is white blood cell count (WBC)?
What dietary change is the cornerstone of preventing diverticulosis?
What is increasing fiber intake?
What is the key difference between diverticulosis and diverticulitis?
What is the presence of non-inflamed pouches in diverticulosis vs. inflamed or infected pouches in diverticulitis?
A patient reports lower abdominal pain after meals that improves after passing gas or a bowel movement. Which form of diverticular disease does this suggest?
What is diverticulosis?
What term describes the abnormal connection between two organs, such as the colon and bladder, that may result from diverticulitis?
What is a fistula?
During abdominal assessment, this sound may be heard if the bowel is obstructed or inflamed.
What are hypoactive bowel sounds?
Besides diet, name two lifestyle changes that reduce the risk of diverticular disease.
What are regular exercise and staying hydrated?
This congenital form of diverticular disease typically occurs near the ileocecal valve in the distal ileum.
What is Meckel's diverticulum?
Diverticulosis is often asymptomatic but may cause these two GI symptoms.
What are mild cramping and bloating?
Diverticulitis can impair motility and cause this mechanical complication.
What is a bowel obstruction?
What is the gold standard imaging test to confirm diverticulitis?
What is a CT scan with contrast?
NSAID overuse can increase the risk of diverticular complications because it worsens this.
What is inflammation?
This type of diverticulum involves only the mucosal layer pushing through the colon wall.
What is a false or pseudo-diverticulum?
This potentially life-threatening symptom can occur in complicated diverticulitis due to systemic infection.
What is sepsis?
The immune system responds to diverticulitis with inflammation. What are two lab markers that indicate this?
What are C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)?
Why should colonoscopy be avoided during the acute phase of diverticulitis?
What is the risk of perforating inflamed pouches?
For mild diverticulitis, what diet is recommended during the initial recovery period?
What is a clear liquid diet?
Explain how high colonic pressure contributes to diverticula formation.
What is increased pressure from constipation or low-fiber diets weakens the colon wall, causing mucosa to bulge out, forming pouches?
Rectal bleeding, rebound tenderness, and a palpable abdominal mass may suggest what complication of diverticulitis?
What is an abscess or perforation?
In severe cases, bleeding diverticula can cause this symptom, which is painless but serious.
What is sudden rectal bleeding?
Name three things a nurse assesses during a head-to-toe exam in a suspected diverticulitis patient.
What are LLQ tenderness, fever, and bowel pattern changes?
List two patient teaching tips for someone recovering from diverticulitis.
What are avoiding straining during bowel movements and maintaining hydration?