Complicated small bowel diverticular disease: a case series

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Surgical Pathology

Background:

• Small bowel diverticulosis, affecting the jejunum and ileum, is an uncommon condition with low prevalence rates.
• Diagnosis is challenging due to the absence of pathognomonic features or specific clinical symptoms.

Observation:

• The study highlights three cases of jejunoileal diverticula with initially occult presentations.
• These cases later progressed to more emergent clinical manifestations.

Findings:

• Small bowel diverticulosis requires consideration in patients with malabsorption, chronic abdominal pain, hemorrhage, perforation, or obstruction.
• Risk factors include connective tissue disorders, family history of diverticula, and personal history of colonic diverticulosis.

Implications:

• While treatment guidelines for complicated small bowel diverticulosis are not well-defined, surgical resection with primary anastomosis is the general consensus.
• Increased awareness and diagnostic vigilance are essential for timely intervention in suspected cases.