The sigmoid colon, starting at the upper aperture of the small pelvis and passing into the rectum, is one of the sections of the large intestine. This department received this name due to its unusual shape, reminiscent of the Greek letter "sigma". It is usually located in the left abdomen, however, its bends often reach the midline of the abdomen and the right hypochondrium. The sigmoid colon is covered on all sides by the mesentery - a duplicate of the peritoneum that fastens the stomach, small intestine, part of the sigmoid colon, a number of other organs and the posterior wall of the abdomen. The mesentery contains a lot of blood and lymph vessels, as well as nerves.
The sigmoid colon plays an important role in the process of digestion of food, it absorbs a significant amount of water, which subsequently spreads throughout all organs and systems of the body. In addition, hardening of feces continues, which then enter the rectum and are excreted from the body. Since digestion is the main function of the sigmoid colon, diseases of this section of the intestine can lead to serious disturbances in the functioning of the intestine as a whole and affect the normal functioning of nearby organs and can even be life threatening. Therefore, timely detection of diseases of such an important organ of the digestive system as the sigmoid colon is of great importance for a favorable outcome of therapy.
One of the diseases of the sigmoid colon is sigmoiditis (a type of colitis), which is an inflammation of this part of the intestine. There are acute and chronic forms of sigmoiditis. The acute form is characterized by sharp pains in the iliac region of the abdomen, similar to contractions, as well as a change in the intensity and color of the stool. Symptoms of the chronic form of this disease are pain after and during bowel movements, as well as the alternation of constipation with diarrhea. In addition, patients complain of belching, bloating, vomiting, nausea, and frequent loud rumbling in the intestines.
Very often, treatment of inflammation of the sigmoid colon is difficult due to improper diagnosis, while the inflammation is more and more aggravated. The process of fusion of nearby organs with the intestine also begins. An inflamed sigmoid colon (pains usually have the character of spasms) manifests itself as the appearance of weakness, a sharp decrease in weight and a deterioration in the quality of life.
Treatment for inflammation of the sigmoid colon involves a strict diet and bed rest. The administration of antispasmodic, sedative, antibacterial and enveloping agents is prescribed. In addition, local treatment is widely used in the form of suppositories, infusions of herbs and corticosteroids. With a timely diagnosis, regardless of the form of the disease, the prognosis is favorable.
A spasm of the sigmoid colon may also be a symptom of another disease called diverticulosis. This disease is acquired, it is based on a violation of intestinal motility, as a result of which high intraluminal pressure arises in some parts of the intestine. In this case, the transverse and longitudinal muscles hypertrophy, tissue circulation failures begin, and the pushing of the chyme through the intestines is disrupted.
Diverticulosis in young people is relatively rare, but by the age of fifty the incidence of the disease increases significantly. The main symptoms of this disease are: flatulence, a feeling of fullness in the abdomen, impaired stool, colic and pain in the iliac fossa. Treatment of this disease avoids very serious consequences, such as fistulas, bleeding, abscessing, purulent peritonitis and various inflammatory processes.
In the event of similar symptoms, it is urgent to consult a doctor to avoid the development of more formidable diseases, such as cancer of the sigmoid colon.