Management of perforated jejunal diverticulitis: A case series and literature review

Abstract

Small bowel diverticulosis, less common than colonic diverticulosis (incidence 1–2 %), predominantly affects males, and risk increases with age. Approximately 15 % or patients present with complications including bleeding, perforations with peritonitis, or fistulas, and these complications can be fatal with mortality rates as high as 40 % in cases of perforation. While some reports have suggested that patients can avoid surgery with bowel rest and antibiotics, or the use of CT guided aspiration of abscesses related to the disease, this case series examines 5 patients with perforated jejunal diverticulitis at a single institution successfully managed with surgical resection in the emergent and elective settings following recurrence of symptoms. There are limitations to medical management and lifestyle modifications alone, while elective surgical resection is effective in symptom management and risk reduction.