The Pulse | Monday, November 19, 2018

Word of the Week: Diverticulum

Each day there are numerous words floating around every GI unit across the country, and at SGNA, we want to help continue to educate and re-introduce various terms that you may be using in your unit, or may not have used in the last few years. That’s why each week, we will shine a light on one word that all GI professionals will find useful. All of the terms and definitions are sourced from our very own SGNA GI/Endoscopy Nursing Review Course Certification Study Manual, 3rd Edition (2016). To kick off Word of the Week we are spotlighting “diverticulum.”

Diverticulum: A herniation of the colonic mucosa through the muscular layer of the colon

• Contributing Factors
  • Hypertrophy of segments of the colon’s circular muscles, usually in sigmoid
  • Increased intracolonic pressure à constipation
  • Age related atrophy or loss of elasticity
  • Lack of dietary fiber
  • obesity
• Symptoms – mild or no symptoms in 80-85%
  • Bloating/gas
  • Irregular defecation
  • Mild abdominal pain
• Treatment
  • High fiber diet/fiber supplements
  • Bowel regime to manage constipation
  • Weight loss
  • Colon resection – when multiple episodes of diverticulitis
• Complications
  • Diverticulosis – infection of the diverticulum
  • Diverticular bleed or hemorrhage

Want more fun facts? We have the answers in our Certification Study Manual – our manual is not just for certification but a great general review of all things GI/Endoscopy.