Jejunal Diverticulitis.

Background: Jejunal diverticulitis is a rare clinical entity often overlooked by physicians as a cause for abdominal pain. Although diagnostic capabilities improved in recent years, there is little data about diverticular disease in the proximal small bowel. The aim of this study is to present the clinical course and management in a series of eight cases of jejunal diverticulitis and possible therapeutic interventions.

Methods: A cohort retrospective analysis of all patients admitted for acute jejunal diverticulitis between January 2010 and June 2015 was conducted. Patient demographics, clinical, and surgical outcome were recorded and analyzed.

Results: Eight patients were admitted for acute jejunal diverticulitis with a mean age of 72.1 (range 55-87) years. Clinical presentation included six patients (75%) with a sealed perforation and only one patient demonstrated distant pneumoperitoneum. All patients were treated initially without surgery and only one patient required surgery because of diverticular complications. Recurrent episodes occurred in two patients (25%). Colonoscopy was performed in all patients after hospitalization that revealed large bowel diverticulosis in all patients (100%). Median follow-up was 8.2 months (3-15 months).

Conclusion: Jejunal diverticulitis can be initially treated conservatively but complicated disease should be considered for surgical management. Further study is required on the relationship between small and large bowel diverticulosis.