Case Report
Copyright ©2007 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Apr 21, 2007; 13(15): 2240-2242
Published online Apr 21, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i15.2240
Complicated small-bowel diverticulosis: A case report and review of the literature
Woubet T Kassahun, Josef Fangmann, Jens Harms, Michael Bartels, Johann Hauss
Woubet T Kassahun, Josef Fangmann, Jens Harms, Michael Bartels, Johann Hauss, Department of Surgery II, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Liebig Strasse 20a, Leipzig 04103, Germany
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Woubet T Kassahun, MD, University of Leipzig, Faculty of Medicine, Clinic for Visceral, Transplantation, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, OKL, Liebig Strasse 20a, 04103 Leipzig, Germany. woubet.kassahun@uniklinik-leipzig.de
Telephone: +49-341-9719973 Fax: +49-341-9717209
Received: February 17, 2007
Revised: February 28, 2006
Accepted: March 8, 2007
Published online: April 21, 2007
Abstract

While jejunoileal diverticula are rare and often asymptomatic, they may lead to chronic non-specific or acute symptoms. The large majority of complications present with an acute abdomen similar to appendicitis, cholecystitis or colonic diverticulitis but they also may appear with atypical symptoms. As a result, diagnosis of complicated jejunoileal diverticulosis can be quite difficult, and may solely depend on the result of surgical exploration. In the absence of contra-indications, diagnostic laparoscopy has the benefit of thorough examination of the abdominal contents and helps to reach an absolute diagnosis. Surgical resection of the involved small-bowel segment with primary anastomosis is the preferred treatment in patients with symptomatic complicated jejunoileal diverticular disease. An atypical presentation of complicated jejunal diverticulitis in conjunction with sigmoid diverticulitis diagnosed with laparoscopy and treated with surgical resection is presented.

Keywords: Jejunoileal diverticulosis; Diverticulitis; Small-bowel resection; Perforation; Laparoscopy