Topic Overview
What is diverticular bleeding?
Diverticular bleeding occurs when
pouches (diverticula 
) that have developed in the wall of the
large intestine (colon) bleed. If you have these pouches, you have a condition
called
diverticulosis.
Diverticular bleeding
causes a large amount of blood to appear in your stool. Bleeding starts
suddenly and usually stops on its own. Abdominal pain usually does not occur
with the bleeding.
If you have a large amount of blood in your
stool, see a doctor right away. It is possible, but not common, to quickly lose
so much blood that you become lightheaded or weak.
What causes diverticular bleeding?
Pouches
(diverticula) form along the wall of the large intestine (colon) when high
pressure inside the colon pushes against weak spots in the colon wall. Bleeding
occurs when a hole (perforation) develops between a pouch (diverticulum) and a
blood vessel.
What are the symptoms?
Diverticular bleeding
usually causes sudden, severe bleeding from the rectum. The blood may be dark
red or bright red clots. In most cases there is no pain, and the bleeding stops
on its own.
How is diverticular bleeding diagnosed?
Diverticular bleeding is diagnosed by ruling out other causes of the
bleeding. Your doctor will do a medical history and physical examination, along
with some tests. Imaging tests such as angiography (also known as
arteriography) may be done to find the location of
persistent bleeding.
Colonoscopy, the inspection of the entire large
intestine (colon) using a long, flexible, lighted viewing scope (colonoscope),
is considered one of the most useful tests for determining the source of
bleeding in the lower intestines.
Your doctor might do a test
called technetium-labeled red blood cell bleeding scan to look for the source
of bleeding. In this test, some blood is taken from you, and a small amount of
radioactive material called technetium is added to the blood. The blood
containing the technetium is then injected back into your bloodstream and
traced to the source of bleeding.
How is it treated?
Bleeding from diverticula often
will stop on its own. If it does not, treatment may be needed to stop it and to
replace lost blood, and you may need to be hospitalized. Treatment may include
intravenous fluids, blood transfusions, injection of medicines, and in some
cases surgery to remove the diseased part of the colon.
Can diverticular bleeding be prevented?
Eating a
high-fiber diet, getting plenty of fluid, and exercising regularly may help
prevent the formation of diverticula. But if you already have diverticulosis,
diet may not help prevent bleeding.
