An interesting coexistence: small bowel volvulus and small bowel diverticulosis

Abstract

Acquired (non-Meckel's) jejuno-ileal diverticular disease is uncommon, and most surgeons have limited, if any, experience with this condition. We present an interesting case with coexistence of small bowel diverticulum and small bowel volvulus with massive abdominal distension, in which the patient had a history of abdominal distension without abdominal pain over a five-year period. A brief discussion of the common clinical features is given and the principles of treatment of jejuno-ileal diverticular disease and small bowel volvulus are presented. A 29-year- old man with no history of laparotomy was admitted with abdominal distension and abdominal compartment syndrome symptoms. An emergency laparotomy revealed 180 degree clockwise volvulus of the multiple diverticula-bearing terminal ileum. There was no diverticulum in other sites of the small intestine and colon. Additionally, there was neither adhesion nor any congenital anomalies at the other sites of the gastrointestinal system. The viability of the intestine was normal but the diameter of the ileum was extremely enlarged (approximately 20 cm). In addition, the bowel wall was also hypertrophied. The rotated and enormously enlarged diverticula-bearing small intestine was removed with cecum, and ileocolostomy was performed. The patient was discharged uneventfully from hospital on the eighth postoperative day. After the operation, all symptoms of the patient disappeared. Small bowel obstruction is a common cause of emergency surgical admission. Awareness of the fact that volvulus of the diverticula-bearing segment of the jejuno- ileum is a rare cause of small bowel obstruction may lead to earlier and prompt diagnosis and treatment.