Jejunal diverticulosis: a potentially dangerous entity.

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Surgical Pathology
• Abdominal Surgery

Background:

• Jejunal diverticulosis is an uncommon condition, often asymptomatic.
• Delayed diagnosis of jejunal diverticulosis can lead to significant morbidity and mortality.
• Complications of jejunal diverticulosis include chronic symptoms and acute surgical emergencies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To increase awareness of jejunal diverticula and their potential complications.
• To highlight the diagnostic challenges associated with jejunal diverticulosis.
• To emphasize the clinical significance of small-bowel diverticulosis.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of medical records.
• Analysis of 8 consecutive patients with complications from small-bowel diverticula over 4 years.
• Focus on jejunal diverticula and their associated acute and chronic presentations.

Main Results:

• Seven patients presented with acute complications: intra-abdominal abscess, perforation with peritonitis, bowel occlusion, or bleeding.
• Preoperative diagnosis was not achieved in any of the 7 patients with acute symptoms.
• One patient with chronic symptoms had a jejuno-colic fistula and foreign body.
• One patient died from multiorgan failure.

Conclusions:

• Small-bowel diverticulosis, particularly jejunal diverticula, is a clinically significant condition.
• Preoperative diagnosis of jejunal diverticulosis is difficult.
• Incidental findings of jejunal diverticula require careful monitoring due to the risk of severe complications.