Surgery to remove the diverticulum is recommended if bleeding develops. In these rare cases, the segment of small intestine that contains the diverticulum is surgically removed. The ends of the intestine are sewn back together.
You may need iron replacement to correct anemia. If you have a lot of bleeding, you may need a blood transfusion.
Support Groups
Expectations (prognosis)
Full recovery can be expected with surgery.
Complications
- Excess bleeding (hemorrhage) from the diverticulum
- Folding of the intestines (
intussusception ), a type of blockage Peritonitis - Tear (perforation) of the bowel at the diverticulum
Calling your health care provider
See your health care provider promptly if your child passes blood or bloody stool or complains repeatedly of abdominal discomfort.
Previous Section
Review Date: 11/11/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of
General Medicine, Department of Medicine University of Washington
School of Medicine; and George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of
Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San
Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical
Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
