Included In This Lesson
Study Tools
Diverticulosis / Diverticulitis
(Care Plans)
Diverticulitis Pathochart
(Cheat Sheet)
Diverticulitis Complications
(Mnemonic)
Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis Interventions
(Picmonic)
Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis Assessment
(Picmonic)
Outline
Diverticulitis
Definition/Etiology:
- Diverticulitis – inflammation/infection of the diverticula in the colon
- Most common in middle aged people that smoke, are overweight, eat a low fiber diet that is high in fat and do not exercise.
- Exact etiology – undetermined. Believed to be caused by constipation secondary to not eating enough fiber.
Pathophysiology:
- Diverticula = pockets/bulges in the colon
- Diverticulosis = you have diverticula
- Diverticulitis = your diverticulosis is angry and infected
Clinical Presentation:
- Abdominal Pain (usually LLQ)
- Change in bowel habits
- N/V
- Fever
Collaborative Management:
- CT abdomen pelvis
- Abdominal US
- CBC
- CMP
- CRP
- ESR
- Medical management preferred over surgery.
- Bland diet/bowel rest
- Antiemetic
- Antibiotic therapy
- IV hydration
Evaluation | Patient Monitoring | Education:
- Pain management
- Hemodynamic monitoring for signs of hypovolemia
- Can be discharged for outpatient follow up if able to hold down fluids and pain is controlled.
Linchpins: (Key Points)
- LLQ pain
- Diverticulitis is angry diverticulosis
- Medical management preferred
Transcript
For more great CEN prep, got to the link below to purchase the “Emergency Nursing Examination Review” book by Dr. Laura Gasparis Vonfrolio RN, PHD
https://greatnurses.com/
References:
- Diverticulosis & Diverticulitis: Symptoms, treatments, prevention. Cleveland Clinic. (2020, April 1). Retrieved October 17, 2022, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10352-diverticular-disease
- Linzay, C. D., & Pandit, S. (2017). Acute diverticulitis
Mike Isaacs, MSN, RN, CEN, TCRN 
