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If you’ve having surgery for diverticulitis, your surgeon will cut the damaged part of your colon and join the healthy parts back together. This is called colonic resection.^{1 2}

It you have to have an emergency operation because of a bad infection or blockage in your colon, the operation might be done in two parts. This is because it may not be safe to rejoin your colon right away. Instead, you'll have the operation to join your colon back together a few months after the diseased part has been removed.

In the time between the two operations, the end of your colon will be connected to a temporary hole in your abdomen called a stoma. Your stools will go into a bag attached to your stoma. This is called having a colostomy.^{1 2} Only about 1 in 6 people still get problems with diverticula after this type of operation.³

If you’re having a planned operation (non-emergency operation) for diverticular disease, you may have laparoscopic surgery (also called keyhole surgery). This is when your surgeon makes very small cuts in your abdomen and uses a narrow tube with a camera to see your colon. To remove the diverticula, your surgeon will use small operating tools that they pass through other small cuts in your abdomen. People who have this kind of surgery usually have less pain and recover more quickly than people who have surgery through a large cut in their abdomen.⁴

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.