Surgical implications of jejunal diverticula

Abstract

To gain insight into the surgical significance of acquired jejunal diverticula, we reviewed the experience at the teaching hospitals in our city during the past ten years. An antemortem diagnosis of jejunal diverticulosis was made in 27 men and 59 women with a mean age of 69.6 years. In 71 patients the diagnosis was made during upper gastrointestinal roentgenologic evaluation for abdominal symptoms, in three it was made during mesenteric arteriography or bleeding scan for massive rectal bleeding, in six it was made during exploratory laparotomy for acute abdominal signs and symptoms, and in the remaining six it was an incidental intraoperative finding. Surgical indications occurred in 13 patients (15%) and consisted of massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding in four patients, blind loop syndrome in three, small bowel obstruction in three, diverticular perforation in two, and chronic abdominal pain requiring jejunal resection in one. In three additional patients with melena and nine with chronic abdominal pain, jejunal diverticulosis was the only abnormality detected; none of these patients had operation. Although the majority of patients with jejunal diverticula do not require surgical treatment, it may be necessitated by complications such as bleeding, perforation, obstruction, blind loop syndrome, or intractable abdominal pain.