| diverticular | <anatomy> Pertaining to a diverticulum. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| diverticular disease | Symptomatic congenital or acquired diverticula of any portion of the gastrointestinal tract. Such diverticula occur in about 15% of the population but rarely cause symptoms. (05 Mar 2000) |
| diverticular disease of colon | <radiology> Overactivity of smooth muscle causing herniation of mucosa and submucosa through the muscle layers, incidence: 5-10% in 5th decade; 50% past 7th decade; M:F = 1:1, aetiology: decreased faecal bulk; diet high in refined fibre and low in roughage, location: sigmoid (80%): narrowest colonic segment with highest pressure, entire colon (17%), caecum/ascending colon (4-12%) see also: prediverticular disease of colon, colonic diverticulosis, colonic diverticulitis, colonic diverticular hemmorrhage (12 Dec 1998) |
| diverticulate | <botany> Having short offshoots approximately at right angles to the main stem. (09 Oct 1997) |
| diverticulectomy | Excision of a diverticulum. (05 Mar 2000) |
| diverticulitis | <pathology, surgery> Inflammation of a diverticulum, especially inflammation related to colonic diverticula, which may undergo perforation with abscess formation. Sometimes called left sided appendicitis. (18 Nov 1997) |
| diverticulitis, bleeding from | Diverticular bleeding typically occurs intermittently over several days. Colonoscopy is usually performed to confirm the diagnosis and exclude bleeding from other causes. Thermal probes cannot be employed to stop active diverticular bleeding. Therefore, surgical removal of the bleeding diverticula is necessary for those with persistent bleeding. (12 Dec 1998) |
| diverticulitis, colonic | Inflammatory complications of colonic diverticulosis in which diverticula may undergo perforation with abscess formation. (12 Dec 1998) |
| diverticulitis, treatment of acute | Antibiotics are usually needed. Oral antibiotics are sufficient when symptoms are mild. Liquid or low fibre foods are advised during acute diverticulitis attacks. In severe diverticulitis with high fever and pain, patients are hospitalised and given intravenous antibiotics. Surgery is needed for persistent bowel obstruction or abscesses not responding to antibiotics. (12 Dec 1998) |
| diverticuloma | Development of a granulomatous mass in the wall of the colon. Origin: diverticulum + G. -oma, tumour (05 Mar 2000) |
| diverticulopexy | A plastic operation to obliterate a diverticulum. Origin: diverticulum + G. Pexis, fixation (05 Mar 2000) |
| diverticulosis | <gastroenterology, surgery> A condition in which a person has small sacs or pouch in the walls of a canal or organ, such as the stomach or intestine. These sacs can become inflamed to cause diverticulitis and can be a risk factor for certain types of cancer. (16 Dec 1997) |
| diverticulosis, colonic | Presence of multiple herniations of the mucosa and submucosa of the colon through the circular muscle layer. (12 Dec 1998) |
| diverticulosis/diverticulitis and fibre | High fibre diets help delay the progression of diverticulosis and, at least, reduce the bouts of diverticulitis. (12 Dec 1998) |
| diverticulum | <anatomy, surgery> A small sac-like structure that sometimes forms in the walls of the intestines, diverticula can trap particles of food (especially small seeds and undigested grains) and become very inflammed and painful (this condition is called diverticulitis). (09 Oct 1997) |