Although jejunal
diverticulosis is a rare entity and usually asymptomatic, it may cause chronic symptoms and acute complications. Because of the rarity of the entity, diagnosis is often delayed, resulting in unnecessary morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to draw attention to jejunal
diverticula and their complications. The medical records of 8 consecutive patients with complications due to small-bowel
diverticula treated at our department during the past 4 years were reviewed. All
diverticula were located in the jejunum. Seven patients had acute complications, 3 patients had an
intra-abdominal abscess, 2 had free perforation with diffuse
peritonitis, 1 had a bowel occlusion and 1 patient had concomitant
bleeding and occlusion. One patient presented with chronic symptoms. A preoperative diagnosis of jejunal
diverticula, before explorative
laparotomy, was not reached in any of the 7 patients with acute symptoms. In the patient with chronic symptoms, multiple jejunal
diverticula complicated by a jejuno-
colic fistula and
foreign body were found at
laparotomy. On patient died of multiorgan failure. Small-bowel
diverticulosis is a rare entity, but it should not be regarded as a clinically insignificant finding. It may be difficult to make a preoperative diagnosis. Patients with incidentally detected proximal jejunal
diverticula, at imaging studies or at
laparotomy, warrant close observation and awareness that the
diverticula may cause serious complications.