Jejunal diverticulitis. Review and treatment algorithm

Unusual Variations and Atypical Presentations of Diverticulitis

In this article, we describe four unusual variations of diverticulitis: nonsigmoid colonic diverticulitis, giant colonic diverticulum, segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis, and small bowel diverticulitis. We discuss the epidemiology, presentation, and treatment of these types and how they differ from the presentation of typical sigmoid diverticulitis. We also review unusual presentations of typical sigmoid diverticulitis, including hematogenous liver abscess, necrotizing soft-tissue infection, and genitourinary fistula. Diverticulitis is a heterogeneous disease, and understanding the range of its presentations will facilitate early diagnosis and treatment.

An unusual case of giant jejunal diverticula presenting radiologically as toxic megacolon

Jejunal diverticulosis is an uncommon entity of the gastrointestinal tract. It involves the presence of multiple diverticula (pouches) in the jejunal wall. Jejunal diverticulosis is not so common, and the epidemiology is ill defined, but usually, it is known to affect the elderly more. They are considered from a pathophysiological point of view as motility disorders, structural defects, or high intraluminal pressures, with the result of prolapse of the mucosa of the jejunum through weak points of the intestinal wall. It represents a rare entity with different clinical presentations, ranging from being asymptomatic to life-threatening complications such as obstruction, bleeding, or perforation. Treatment depends on the presentation and can be conservative or surgical management.

Perforated jejunal diverticulitis in the setting of biologic therapy presenting as transverse Colon diverticulitis: A case report

INTRODUCTION

Small bowel diverticula are a rare entity and are mostly found in the duodenum on diagnosis. Some common complications of this pathology include bleeding, obstruction, diverticulitis, and perforation. Furthermore, there is growing evidence supporting an association between biologic therapies and spontaneous intestinal perforation.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

We present a case of a 79-year-old female on prednisone, hydroxychloroquine, and tofacitinib for rheumatoid arthritis who was misdiagnosed with transverse colonic diverticulitis and eventually found to have perforated jejunal diverticulitis on laparotomy.

DISCUSSION

While tofacitinib has been associated with spontaneous intestinal perforation, it has not been documented as an aggravating factor in small bowel diverticular disease.

CONCLUSION

It is imperative to maintain a high index of suspicion for this pathology in immunosuppressed patients with an atypical presentation of diverticular disease.

Small Bowel Diverticulosis and COVID-19: Awareness Is the Key: A Case Series and Review of the Literature

Small bowel non-Meckelian diverticulosis is a rare condition with only a few published cases despite being described over 200 years ago. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, studies suggested that many patients may experience gastrointestinal manifestations. Intestinal symptoms could worsen the inflammation and infection associated with small bowel diverticulitis. Here we present three cases: one with inflammation and rupture in a COVID-19 patient and another as an asymptomatic detection. The third case involved recurrence after the first laparoscopic lavage approach. Furthermore, we provide a mini-review of the literature to emphasize the importance of considering this entity in the differential diagnosis of an acute abdomen. In the majority of cases involving small bowel diverticula, conservative management is the preferred approach. However, when complications arise, surgical intervention, including enteroctomy and primary anastomosis, may be necessary to achieve optimal outcomes.

Acute Abdomen Secondary to Ileal Diverticulum: A Case Report

Small-bowel diverticulosis is rare. We report the case of a male with an acute abdomen secondary to an ileal diverticulum. A 46-year-old male complained of progressive abdominal pain over 24 hours of evolution in the left flank. On physical examination, we found abdominal pain in the left flank and mesogastrium, tenderness, and signs of peritonitis. The simple abdominal CT showed a heterogeneous tubular image in the small bowel. We performed a diagnostic laparoscopy and found a normal cecal appendix. There was no free abdominal fluid or adhesions, and the colon was without diverticula. We found a single diverticulum of 4 cm in length and 2 cm in diameter in the small intestine and therefore converted the procedure to a laparotomy. We performed a bowel resection including the diverticulum and intestinal anastomosis. The patient reported remission of symptoms after surgery.

Strangulated diverticulum: a new acute complication of small bowel diverticulosis

Complicated jejunal diverticulosis is a difficult entity to diagnose, which can cause significant morbidity and mortality. We present the case of an 88-year-old female who presented with a unique complication of small bowel diverticulosis progressing to a strangulated diverticulum requiring emergency surgery. We present the case of an 88-year-old female who presented with abdominal pain associated with a new mass on a background of perforated diverticulitis and previous laparoscopic abdominal surgeries for division of adhesions. Due to high suspicion for the mass containing necrotic bowel, the patient was taken directly to theatre for an exploratory laparotomy and was found to have ischaemic small bowel secondary to a strangulated jejunal diverticulum. When evaluating the acute abdomen consideration should be given to the diagnosis of a strangulated jejunal diverticulum causing ischaemic small bowel, with a view to expedite to emergency surgery as the primary treatment.

Gastric resection with intrathoracic anastomosis in a hiatal hernia - A case report

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Severe complication of hiatal hernia with gastric and esophageal necrosis

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Acute total gastrectomy with esophagojejunoanastomosis via right-sided thoracotomy

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Simultaneous resection of multiple jejunal diverticula present

Jejunal diverticulitis: A new case report and a review of the literature

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Jejunal diverticulitis is a rare condition.

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The computed tomography is now the best diagnostic imaging method.

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There is no consensus on therapeutic strategy and management of jejunal diverticulitis

Complicated jejunal diverticulosis with intestinal perforation and obstruction: delay in hospital visit during confinement due to COVID-19

Diverticulosis of the small bowel is a rare entity. It can cause acute, complications such as diverticulitis, perforation, intestinal bleeding and obstruction. During the pandemic, patients were reluctant to visit hospitals for fear of contracting coronavirus disease 2019. This caused the patients to wait until the extreme deterioration of many acute surgical conditions. An 83-year-old man with multiple comorbidities showed up at the emergency department with generalized abdominal pain of 7 days of evolution. The computed tomography scan revealed a large distention of the small intestine and a small inflammatory abscess. He was transferred to the operating room where a segment of the jejunum affected by multiple diverticula located on the mesenteric side of the intestine and a mesenteric abscess related to a perforated jejunal diverticulum were identified. Complicated jejunal diverticulosis is a difficult entity to diagnose, which can cause significant morbidity and mortality. To avoid this, its timely diagnosis is essential.

Perforated jejunal diverticulitis with extensive diverticulosis: A case report

Jejunal diverticulitis is a rare condition that almost occurs in the elderly. An extensive diverticulosis associated is exceptional and can make the treatment more challenging.

Surgically Managed Perforated Jejunal Diverticulitis

A 71-year-old male with a past medical history significant for chronic constipation presented to the emergency department for acute onset of severe abdominal pain. On presentation, the patient appeared to be in distress, exemplifying signs of peritonitis despite vital signs being grossly benign. CT scan established the diagnosis of a perforated jejunal diverticulitis. Initially, the patient was managed conservatively with IV fluids, antibiotics, and pain control medications. Diagnostic imaging in tandem with the patient's failure to improve incited surgical intervention with a jejunal resection and establishment of a primary anastomosis. This case illustrates additional differential diagnoses necessary for consideration in an elderly patient presenting with an acute abdomen. 

Perforated Jejunal Diverticulitis: a rare cause of acute abdominal pain

It is imperative for surgeons to have a heightened awareness of complications of jejunal diverticular disease so that they can act quickly and contribute to a successful clinical outcome for their patients.

Enterolith ileus and jejunal diverticulitis from jejunal diverticulosis: the complications of a rare gastrointestinal entity

Small bowel diverticulosis is rare. False diverticula form in the jejunum, and less commonly, the ileum. As with their large bowel counterparts, these diverticula provide a pocket for stasis of bowel content, leading to the formation of enteroliths. This case report highlights two complications from jejunal diverticulosis: jejunal diverticulitis and a small bowel obstruction as a result of enterolithiasis; the latter being a rare entity which should be a differential diagnosis for any individual presenting with gastrointestinal obstructive symptoms and radiological evidence of small bowel diverticulosis.

Jejunal diverticulitis: Things to know to prevent diagnostic mistake

The jejunal diverticula are relatively rare. A female patient was admitted at our emergency department with acute abdominal pain and vomiting. CT-scan of the abdomen showed multiple diverticula in the colon and multiple intra-abdominal fluid collections, also in the left quadrants of the abdomen. Free intraperitoneal extraluminal air was also observed, suggesting bowel perforation. Surgical exploration showed multiple diverticula of the jejunum with a perforated jejunal diverticulum extending approximately 10 cm from ligament of Treitz. Jejunal resection was performed. Jejunal diverticulitis is rare, but it can lead to an acute abdomen increasing mortality especially in elderly patients. Jejunal diverticulitis usually starts with features that mimic colonic diverticulitis. In patients with personal history of colonic diverticulosis and suspected diverticulitis, jejunal or ileal diverticulitis must be excluded occurring with a frequency of 2.3% in patients with known diverticulosis. In absence of pathognomonic colonic diverticulitis CT findings, small intestine acute complicated diverticulitis should be always suspected. In complicated jejunal diverticulitis surgical treatment is mandatory and a laparotomy can be needed for a better management. (www.actabiomedica.it)

Massive Gastrointestinal Bleeding Due to Jejunal Diverticula in a Community Hospital: A Case Report and Review of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Options

Small bowel diverticula are rare and often asymptomatic. Severe lower gastrointestinal bleeding from jejunal diverticula is rarely reported and, therefore, should be considered a differential diagnosis in all cases of lower gastrointestinal bleeding with nonconclusive gastroscopy and colonoscopy. In this case report, we discuss a case of a 75-year-old male with massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding from jejunal diverticula. Initial gastroscopy did not reveal the source of bleeding. Repeat upper endoscopy with a pediatric colonoscope identified jejunal diverticula as the likely source of bleeding. Angiography identified the site of extravasation, and successful angioembolization was done by interventional radiology.

Acute abdomen caused by a large solitary jejunal diverticulum that induced a midgut volvulus. Report of a case

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Diverticuli are found throughout the gastrointestinal tract from esophagus to rectum.

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In the jejunum diverticuli are most commonly proximal, multiple and asymptomatic.

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A large solitary jejunal diverticulum caused life endangering midgut volvulus.

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In the absence of timely surgical intervention the condition would have been fatal.

Background

Jejunal diverticula are a rare subtype of false diverticula found in the gastrointestinal tract. When present, they are usually multiple, in the proximal jejunum and asymptomatic. Rarely, they can cause acute complications that can develop into an acute abdomen requiring surgical intervention. We present the rare manifestation of a single jejunal diverticulum causing midgut volvulus and bowel ischemia. Early surgical intervention with small bowel derotation allowed complete recovery.

Methods

Data regarding the case, operative intervention, and patient follow-up was prospectively accumulated with permission of the patient at an academic institution. All patient identifiers were removed. All research steps were performed under guidance outlined in the SCARE criteria.

Results

We present the case of a 78-year-old man who presented to our institution with an acute abdomen. CT imaging demonstrated a whirlpool sign without an obvious lead point. The patient was without prior surgical intervention. Urgent exploratory laparotomy revealed a midgut volvulus with associated bowel ischemia and impending infarction secondary to adhesive disease from a large single jejunal diverticulum. Derotation resulted in gradual recovery of bowel vascularity. Resection of the portion of the jejunum containing the diverticulum resulted in full clinical recovery of the patient.

Conclusions

Complications of jejunal diverticula, although rare, should be considered as part of the differential diagnosis of an acute abdomen of unknown etiology. Urgent surgical intervention was required to avoid a potential catastrophic outcome.

Multiple Small Bowel Diverticula Were an Unexpected Finding During Laparoscopic Enterectomy for Crohn's Disease

Introduction:

Small bowel diverticulosis (SBD) is a rare entity. Although it is usually an asymptomatic condition, clinical manifestations may vary from non-specific clinical signs to severe and complicated disease. The coexistence of SBD and Crohn’s disease (CD) is rarely reported in the current literature.

Aim:

We present a rare case of concomitant Crohn’s disease (CD) and SBD in a male patient, where multiple jejunal diverticula were an incidental intraoperative finding. Preoperative evaluation with magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) failed to recognize the coexistence of these two entities. Surgeons should be aware of the possibility of this rare situation.

Case report:

A 52-year-old Caucasian male diagnosed with CD was referred to our department for surgical intervention due to an ileal stricture. The patient reported no past medical history, except for a few episodes of bloody diarrhoea during a three-year period. The index colonoscopy revealed luminal narrowing in the ileum at approximately 70 cm proximal to the ileocaecal valve, and biopsies revealed findings compatible with CD. Clinical examination and laboratory tests were unremarkable one day before surgery. The patient underwent laparoscopic segmental resection of the affected part of the ileum. Intraoperatively, multiple non-inflamed diverticula along the jejunum extending from the Treitz ligament to the proximal ileum were recognized. Our patient had an uncomplicated post-operative course and was discharged on the fifth post-operative day. Pathological examination revealed features compatible with CD in the active phase. The patient was referred to his gastroenterological team for further consultation regarding the appropriate post-operative management.

Conclusion:

Concomitant CD and SBD is a rare condition, and the differential diagnosis may be challenging due to overlapping symptoms.

Jejunal Diverticulosis Complicated by Diverticulitis and Small Bowel Obstruction

Diverticular disease is common in the Western population and can cause considerable morbidity. The prevalence of colonic diverticulosis reaches 60% by the age of 60 years. Small bowel diverticulosis is much rarer and, when present, most commonly occurs in the duodenum. We herein report an elderly woman with jejunal diverticulosis complicated by diverticulitis and small bowel obstruction, who subsequently underwent small bowel resection and primary anastomosis. As demonstrated by this case, jejunal diverticulitis can cause serious complications and given the possibility of recurrence and serious complications, surgical options should be discussed early in the course of medical care. 

Perforated Jejunal Diverticulitis, An Unusual Cause of Intraabdominal Abscess

Jejunal diverticulosis is a sporadic seen disease which was generally asymptomatic. Severe diverticulitis complications such as obstruction, hemorrhage, or perforation with a delayed diagnosis can be life-threatening. An 82 year old male patient applied to the emergency service with abdominal pain, and his physical examination was compatible with acute abdomen and peritonitis. He was diagnosed with perforation due to extraluminal air and abscess on computerized abdominal tomography. The patient underwent exploratory laparotomy and was diagnosed with perforation of jejunal diverticulitis, perioperatively. Segmental small intestine resection and end-to-end anastomosis were performed. He was discharged with no complications on the postoperative 25th day. In this case report, it is aimed to report a rare cause of acute abdomen in an elderly patient with perforation of jejunal diverticulitis due to delayed diagnosis.

Non-operatively managed case of contained jejunal diverticular perforation

Jejunal diverticulosis is an underdiagnosed condition due to its relatively benign existence and uncharacteristic presentation. The complications can be very severe and, due to its often late diagnosis, patients may require urgent surgery. We present a woman who initially complained of non-specific abdominal symptoms but was diagnosed with a contained jejunal diverticular perforation relatively early. We managed her non-operatively with intravenous antibiotics from which she recovered well. She was discharged 2 days later and has remained completely well. Follow-up at 3 months showed no recurrence. Our case differs from most of the literature due to the early diagnosis and successful non-operative management of the patient. We conclude that, in cases of non-specific abdominal pain with diagnostic ambiguity, a diagnosis of small bowel diverticulosis should be considered. It should be managed non-operatively where possible.

Acquired diverticular disease of the jejunum and ileum: imaging features and pitfalls

PURPOSE

To present radiological aspects of jejunoileal diverticulosis and its complications.

RESULTS

Jejunoileal diverticulosis is a relatively rare and underestimated condition, which mostly affects the elderly. It is frequently asymptomatic but it can lead to significant complications requiring surgical treatment. Jejunoileal diverticulosis is far less common than colonic diverticulosis. Acquired small bowel diverticula are often numerous but the complication rate is low. Acute diverticulitis is the most frequent complication; its classic presentation involves the jejunum and is often non-severe. Diverticular hemorrhage is the second most common complication; CT scan examination is essential to determine the accurate topography of the pathological diverticula. Small bowel obstruction can occur through several mechanisms: adhesions, enterolith, and intussusception. Extra-intestinal gas without perforation and "pseudo-ischemic" appearance are non-pathological conditions that are important to diagnose in order to avoid surgery.

CONCLUSION

Jejunoileal diverticulosis usually does not show any symptoms but can lead to diagnostic challenges requiring evaluation by CT. CT scan signs of these complications and some pitfalls must be known.