Clinical implications of small bowel diverticula.

BACKGROUND

Small bowel diverticula are usually asymptomatic and rare. Their importance is based on the fact that they carry the risk of serious complications.

OBJECTIVE

To study the implications and the therapeutic approach regarding small bowel diverticulosis.

METHODS

The medical records of 54 patients with diverticular disease of the small bowel, including Meckel's and duodenum diverticula, were retrospectively reviewed. The mean age of the 32 male and 22 female patients was 53.2 years.

RESULTS

Diverticula were found in the duodenum in 11 cases, in the jejunum and ileum in 21 cases, and with Meckel's diverticula in 22 cases. In 24% of the patients the diverticula were multiple. The most common clinical symptom was abdominal pain, in 44.4%. Most of the duodenum diverticula were asymptomatic; 47.6% of the patients with diverticular disease located in the jejunum and ileum presented with chronic symptoms. The overall diagnostic rate for symptomatic diverticula before surgery was 52.7%; in 33.3% diverticula were found incidentally during other diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. Forty-one patients were managed surgically. 15 patients were operated on urgently because of infection or rupture, 4 patients for bleeding, 5 patients for intestinal obstruction, and one patient for jaundice.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of asymptomatic small bowel diverticula is difficult to ascertain. Patients with Meckel's and duodenal diverticula are usually asymptomatic, while the majority of jejunal and ileal diverticula patients present with chronic symptoms. The pre-operative diagnostic rate is higher for duodenal diverticula. Small bowel diverticula do not require surgical treatment unless refractory symptoms or complications occur.