Ren yu Zhang, MD

Diverticulitis Specialist

Board-Certified Colorectal Surgeon located in Las Vegas, NV

Diverticulitis services offered in Las Vegas, NV

As you get older, your risk for abdominal pain from diverticulitis increases. As an experienced colorectal surgeon, Ren Yu Zhang, MD, offers comprehensive services to help relieve the pain of diverticulitis. Dr. Zhang uses on-site diagnostic testing to confirm your symptoms relate to diverticulitis. He also offers customized treatment plans using medications and surgery to ease your pain and help your bowel heal. Call the office in Las Vegas, Nevada, today to schedule a diagnostic evaluation for diverticulitis symptoms or book an appointment online. 

Diverticulitis Q & A

What is diverticulitis?

In the lining of your colon, small, bulging pouches known as diverticula can form. Diverticula become more common after age 40.

Diverticulitis describes pouches that become inflamed or infected. This condition can develop when weak spots in your colon cause tearing in the diverticula.

Besides your age, other risk factors for diverticulitis include:

  • Smoking
  • Weight challenges
  • Lack of exercise
  • Certain medications

If you eat a high-fat, low-fiber diet, you may also be at increased risk of developing diverticulitis.

When should I seek treatment for diverticulitis?

You should schedule a diagnostic evaluation at the office of Ren Yu Zhang, MD, if you have symptoms of diverticulitis, such as:

  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Fever
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting

Persistent abdominal pain is another common symptom of diverticulitis. You may feel pain in the lower-left side of your abdomen.

Without treatment, diverticulitis can also cause abscesses, bowel blockages, and fistulas. 

You may also develop peritonitis, a condition where infected pus from a torn pouch spills into your abdominal cavity. Peritonitis is an emergency, and you need immediate medical care at the nearest hospital or by calling 911.

Dr. Zhang can determine if your symptoms relate to diverticulitis during a physical exam. He may also request bloodwork, stool testing, and a CT scan.

How is diverticulitis treated?

Your treatment plan for diverticulitis depends on your symptoms and their severity. If you have mild diverticulitis symptoms, you may need antibiotics only to clear any infection. You may also need to follow a liquid diet for several days to give your bowel time to heal.

Surgery may be the best option for moderate to severe diverticulitis symptoms. Dr. Zhang can use advanced surgical techniques to drain abscesses in your bowel, repair tears in the bowel wall, or treat a fistula, an abnormal tunnel that forms between your bowel and other organs.

Dr. Zhang may also remove part of your colon during surgery and reattach the healthy parts that remain. In some cases, he performs a colostomy, a procedure to create a hole in your abdominal wall. He attaches a bag to this hole to collect waste from your body.

You may need to wear a colostomy bag for several months while your colon heals. Dr. Zhang can then reattach your colon to your rectum.

To schedule a diagnostic evaluation for symptoms of diverticulitis, call the office of Ren Yu Zhang, MD, today or book an appointment online.