Can diverticulosis be left untreated?

The presence or absence of symptoms and the size of the opening determine whether an intestinal diverticulum needs to be treated. If the diverticulum is small and the patient has no other symptoms, it can be temporarily observed. If the diverticulum is large and the patient has some uncomfortable symptoms, it often needs to be treated. If the diverticulum is small and the patient has no other symptoms, the body is usually not damaged by it; if the diverticulum is large and the patient has intermittent abdominal pain, the patient needs to be treated because sometimes severe inflammation can lead to perforation of the diverticulum, which is then called intestinal perforation. Intestinal fluid and feces may flow into the abdominal cavity, which can lead to serious infection in the abdominal cavity and even serious peritonitis, which can be life-threatening. After the diverticulum is found, one needs to go to the general surgery or gastrointestinal surgery department of the hospital as soon as possible to complete the relevant examination, and the doctor will decide whether to perform laparoscopic diverticulectomy followed by intestinal suturing or intestinal anastomosis, which needs to be decided according to the patient’s condition. During the treatment period, patients should avoid alcoholic beverages and try not to eat too spicy foods or pickled foods.