Complications of Diverticulitis

In diverticular disease, a diverticulum may bleed into the intestine. If a diverticulum ruptures, the contents of the intestine, including bacteria and blood, spill into the abdominal cavity, often causing infection. An abnormal channel (fistula) may form between the large intestine and another organ such as the bladder, usually when a diverticulum that touches another organ ruptures.