Brock Lesnar sidelined. What is diverticulitis?

     Diverticular disease is a common condition of the colon.  A diverticulum (pleural is diverticula) is essentially a pocket-like protrusion of the colon wall.   Diverticulosis refers to the presence of diverticula.  Diverticulitis refers to an inflammation of diverticula.

     Diverticular disease increases in prevalence with aging.  It is present in 5% of individuals age 40, and up to 65% of individuals by age 85.  It occurs equally in males and females.  The majority of diverticula occur in the part of the bowel called the sigmoid colon.

     It is believed that dietary and lifestyle triggers may play a role in the development of diverticulosis.  A diet low in fiber, physical inactivity, and obesity have been identified in some medical studies as important predisposing conditions.  While the majority of people with diverticulosis never have symptoms, 15 to 25 percent will develop diverticulitis and 5 to 15 percent can have bleeding problems.

     Diverticulitis occurs when the wall of a diverticulum ruptures and causes an inflammatory reaction. A person can experience a number of symptoms depending on how severe the reaction is.  The most common symptom is abdominal pain.  Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, fever and change in bowel pattern.

     Complicated diverticulitis occurs with a perforation that leads to local infection (abscess) or wide spread infection in the abdominal cavity (peritonitis).  Treatment typically requires antibiotics and surgery.

     Uncomplicated diverticulitis, which occurs in the majority of cases, can respond to more conservative treatment such as antibiotics and bowel rest.  About one-third of individuals will eventually have a second attack.  These people will usually benefit from surgery to prevent future episodes.

Brock Lesnar

     On October 26, 2009 it was announced that Brock Lesnar would not be fighting at UFC 106 due to illness.  It was subsequently learned Lesnar had been diagnosed with diverticulitis.  H was not able to return to fighting until July 3, 2010 at UFC 116.

     On May 12, 2011 it was announced Lesnar was again suffering from diverticulits and would not be fighting at UFC 131.   On May 27, 2011 Lesnar underwent surgery and had 12 inches of his colon removed,

      In addition to Lesnar, both Jim Ross and Vince McMahon have been treated for diverticulitis.




The medical resource www.uptodate.com was used in the preparation of this blog.

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