Midgut volvulus due to jejunal diverticula: A case report

Jejunal diverticulosis is uncommon and often asymptomatic. It can produce significant complications, and some complications are potentially life threatening and require early surgical treatment, such as obstruction, hemorrhage and perforation. There is no consensus on the management of this disease. Only a few cases of jejunal diverticulosis with midgut volvulus have been reported. We herein report a case of 57-year-old woman with jejunal diverticulosis causing small bowel volvulus who complained of intermittent upper abdominal pin-prick for 5 years that eventually progressed to a complete obstruction. The computed tomography scans revealed a mesenteric vessel "whirlpool" and laparotomy showed midgut volvulus secondary to jejunal diverticula. This case highlights jejunal diverticulosis causing small bowel volvulus as an uncommon mechanism of small bowel obstruction, which should be included in the differential diagnosis of small bowel obstruction.     

Intestinal motility in patients with small bowel diverticulosis

It has been demonstrated that motility disorders may be responsible for esophageal and colon diverticulosis. Recently anatomic alterations of both small bowel muscular layers and myenteric plexus have been described in patients with small bowel diverticulosis. Such pathological features could be responsible for motility disorders and small bowel diverticulosis formation. The aim of this work was to study the small bowel motility in patients with small bowel diverticulosis. Ten patients (mean age: 69.2 +/- 6 years mean +/- SEM) with more than 3 diverticula in the jejunum or the ileum (excepting duodenal diverticulum) were studied. After an overnight fast, a 4 lumen probe (side holes 10 cm apart) was used to record duodeno-jejunal motility for 4 hours. Esophageal manometry was also performed in 8 patients. The mean number of phase 3 of the migrating motor complex (mean +/- SEM) during 4 hours was significantly lower in patients with small bowel diverticulosis (0.15 +/- 0.05/hours; mean +/- SEM) than in 10 normal volunteers (0.52 +/- 0.07/hours; mean +/- SEM) (P less than 0.01); 5 patients had zero phase 3 during the 4 hours of recording; one patient displayed intestinal hypomotility associated with aberrant phase 3 like activity; 4 patients showed simultaneous minute-rhythm during more than 80 percent of the phase 2 of the migrating motor complex. Esophageal manometry was also disturbed in 6 patients (low amplitude contractions less than 30 cm H2O in the distal esophagus). Bacterial overgrowth was investigated in 8 patients by means of a glucose breath-test and was found in 6 cases. In conclusion, duodeno jejunal motility is altered in patients with small bowel diverticulosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

A lethal case of pneumatosis intestinalis complicated by small bowel volvulus

Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) is a condition characterised by gas-filled cystic malformations on the intestinal wall. It is often secondary to an underlying disease process. We describe the case of a 76-year-old gentleman who presented with intermittent abdominal pain, altered bowel habits and weight loss. Barium enema was unremarkable, apart from sigmoid diverticulosis. CT scan found evidence of pneumatosis on small bowel walls with benign pneumoperitoneum. As there was no sign of intra-abdominal crisis, he was initially treated conservatively. Unfortunately, he required re-admission 6 weeks later with symptoms of bowel obstruction and clinical signs of perotinitis. At laparotomy, he was found to have extensive small bowel infarction due to volvulus from ‘twisting’ around the axis of superior mesenteric vessels. Evidently, this occurred secondary to a congenitally long small bowel mesentery that predisposed him to volvulus. Extensive small bowel resection was performed. The postoperative course was complicated by persistent hypotension, which proved fatal. This case report draws attention to the rare association between PI and small bowel volvulus predisposed by a congenitally long mesentery, which can present initially with a benign picture (intermittent, reversible volvulus), but subsequently be complicated by lethal bowel infarction (irreversible volvulus). This case raises several issues about the management of this rare condition. Clinicians must realise that PI, though often benign, can present with lethal complications, and early recognition of such complications can be life-saving.     

Intestinal motility in small bowel diverticulosis: a case report and review of the literature

Small bowel diverticulosis is a rare disease that is usually associated with recurrent pseudo-obstruction, bacterial overgrowth, and malabsorption. The more severe complications include hemorrhage and perforation. There is evidence to suggest that this entity is a result of small bowel motor dysfunction. For this reason, it has been associated with disorders in which a myopathic or neuropathic process is involved, such as scleroderma. The majority of patients with jejunal diverticulosis do not require surgery and can be managed medically. We report a case of jejunal diverticulosis in a 63-year-old gentleman who presented with symptoms of pseudo-obstruction. Ambulatory duodenojejunal manometry revealed several abnormalities suggestive of small bowel motor dysfunction. Enteroclysis, however, did not find evidence of mechanical obstruction, and the patient had marked improvement with cisapride and antibiotics.     

Jejunal diverticulosis and chronic pneumoperitoneum.

A unique case of pneumoperitoneum, without peritonitis or perforation, associated with jejunal diverticulosis is presented. Pneumoperitoneum is documented over the course of many years, with recurrence after partial small bowel resection. Jejunal diverticulosis is one of the leading gastrointestinal causes of pneumoperitoneum without peritonitis or surgery. The distended diverticular mucosa may function as a semipermeable membrane allowing transmural gas equilibration.     

Management of surgical complications of small-bowel diverticulosis

INTRODUCTION: Diagnosis of complications of small bowel diverticulosis is difficult in the emergency setting and often delays surgical management. The aim of this study was to report our experience with seven patients presenting with a surgical complication of small-bowel diverticulosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 1, 1995 to June 30, 2001, 7 patients presenting with a complication of small-bowel diverticulosis were included in this retrospective study. The mean age of the patients was 73.1 years. Complications were bleeding in 4 cases and diverticulitis with perforation and abscess formation in 3 cases. RESULTS: The time between complication onset and its management was 20.6 days. Among paraclinical examinations small-bowel barium opacification showed diverticulosis in 4 cases. Other investigations such as endoscopy or CT-Scan imaging studies were used to eliminate other causes of acute abdomen. Patients were operated on in all cases and a segmental small bowel resection was performed in all cases while in one patient, a diversion stomy was performed. One patient died following septic peritonitis treatment. CONCLUSION: Small-bowel diverticulosis is unfrequent. In cases of gastrointestinal haemorrhage or occlusion, diagnosis is performed by eliminating other more frequent causes. If emergency surgery is not required, barium opacification seems to be the most sensitive examination.     

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis associated with small intestinal diverticulosis and bacterial overgrowth

A patient with hepatic histological features of steatohepatitis in association with small bowel diverticulosis and bacterial overgrowth is described. A similar histological picture in the liver is well recognised in association with bacterial overgrowth in excluded loops of small intestine. Jejunal diverticulosis should be considered as a correlate of para-alcoholic hepatitis.     

Jejunal Diverticulosis with Massive Hemorrhage

A case of a relatively uncommon disease, jejunal, diverticulosis, is reported. The case presented an unusual complication, massive melena. The patient was successfully treated and cured by resection of the involved portion of jejunum. In the management of gastrointestinal hemorrhage in the elderly one must always have in mind this infrequent pathological entity, especially when the small bowel is suspected as the site of bleeding.     

Colonic diverticular disease: pathophysiology and clinical picture

Colonic diverticulosis is the most frequent structural abnormality of the large bowel, although it was a rarity before the 20th century. Lifestyle changes in westernized societies with reduced fiber diet are supposed to be the main cause for its high prevalence nowadays. In African countries, where staple diet is rich in fiber, diverticulosis remains very infrequent. Prevalence increases with ageing too. A fiber-deficient diet and subsequent reduction in bowel content volume would lead to increased intraluminal pressures and colonic segmentation, thus promoting diverticula formation. Animal and human studies have shown increased intracolonic pressures in patients with diverticulosis. Alterations in colonic muscle properties, collagen metabolism and in the interactions of the extracellular matrix components may play a role in remodelling the gut wall in diverticular disease. At least one fourth of patients with diverticulosis will develop symptoms, sometimes overlapping with irritable bowel syndrome, but 10-25% will suffer diverticulitis and 3-5% diverticular bleeding. Conservative medical management is usually sufficient in the first episode of diverticulitis, but surgical treatment is generally advocated in recurrences. Diverticular bleeding is a major cause of lower digestive haemorrhage, but generally self-limited. With the application of therapeutic endoscopic and angiographic methods, emergency surgery can often be avoided.     

Pattern and distribution of colonic diverticulosis:Analysis of 2877 barium enemas in Thailand

AIM:To determine the pattern and distribution of colonic diverticulosis in Thai adults.METHODS:A review of the computerized radiology database for double contrast barium enema(DCBE)in Thai adults was performed at the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital,Mahidol University,Bangkok,Thailand.Incomplete studies and DCBE examinations performed in non-Thai individuals were excluded.The pattern and distribution of colonic diverticulosis detected during DCBE studies from June 2009 to October 2011 were determined.The occurrence of solitary cecal diverticulum,rectal diverticulum and giant diverticulum were reported.Factors influencing the presence of colonic diverticulosis were evaluated.RESULTS:A total of 2877 suitable DCBE examinations were retrospectively reviewed.The mean age of patients was 59.8±14.7 years.Of these patients,1778(61.8%)were female and 700(24.3%)were asymptomatic.Colonic diverticulosis was identified in 820patients(28.5%).Right-sided diverticulosis(641 cases;22.3%)was more frequently reported than left-sided diverticulosis(383 cases;13.3%).Pancolonic diverticulosis was found in 98 cases(3.4%).The occurrence of solitary cecal diverticulum,rectal diverticulum and giant diverticulum were 1.5%(42 cases),0.4%(12 cases),and 0.03%(1 case),respectively.There was no significant difference in the overall occurrence of colonic diverticulosis between male and female patients(28.3%vs 28.6%,P=0.85).DCBE examinations performed in patients with some gastrointestinal symptoms revealed the frequent occurrence of colonic diverticulosis compared with those performed in asymptomatic individuals(29.5%vs 25.3%,P=0.03).Change in bowel habit was strongly associated with the presence of diverticulosis(a relative risk of 1.39;P=0.005).The presence of diverticulosis was not correlated with age in symptomatic patients or asymptomatic individuals(P>0.05).CONCLUSION:Colonic diverticulosis was identified in28.5%of DCBE examinations in Thai adults.There was no association between the presence of diverticulosis and gender or age.     

Multiple giant diverticula of the foregut causing upper gastrointestinal obstruction

Small bowel diverticulosis represents an uncommon disorder （except for Meckel diverticulum） often misdiagnosed since it causes non-specific gastrointestinal symptoms. Most of times the diagnosis is carried out in case of related complications, such as diverticulitis, hemorrhage, perforation or obstruction. intestinal obstruction can be caused by inflammatory stenosis due to repeated episodes of diverticulitis, volvulus, intussusception or jejunal stones. Herein we report a case of multiple jejunal diverticula causing chronic gastrointestinal obstruction.     

Diagnosis of gallstone ileus by serial computed tomography

An unusual case of choledocholithiasis followed by gallstone ileus documented by serial computed tomography is reported. A 91-year-old woman underwent gastrostomy because she repeatedly developed aspiration pneumonia, and a common bile duct stone was detected. She and her family refused surgery once symptoms resolved. One year later, she presented with increasing, intermittent abdominal pain and nausea. Abdominal computed tomography revealed a common bile duct stone with inflammatory changes, but the patient still refused surgery. Three months later, she was admitted with abdominal pain and vomiting. On admission, plain abdominal radiographs demonstrated proximal small bowel obstruction. A long ileus tube was inserted through the gastric fistula. Two days after admission, gallstone ileus was diagnosed on abdominal computed tomography based on the presence of pneumobilia, disappearance of the common bile duct stone, fluid-filled bowel loops, and the discovery of an impacted stone in the small bowel. Ten and 15 days after admission, repeated computed tomography demonstrated the impacted stone in the terminal ileum. Seventeen days after admission, a laparotomy was performed, and a 5x3-cm gallstone was removed through an ileotomy.     

Jejunal diverticulosis: a potentially dangerous entity

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.     

The small and large intestine. Fecal incontinence]

Except for impaired resorption of vitamin D and calcium, the small bowel does not exhibit significant functional impairment during aging. Vascular problems in the small and large bowel are rare, but are of dramatic importance. Chronic constipation and diverticulosis are classical disorders of aging which should be treated by adding fiber to the normal diet. Surgery is only indicated in the case of complicated diverticulitis. Adenoma and colorectal carcinoma show an age-related incidence. Angiodysplasia, preferentially localized in the caecum, is the major cause of lower gastrointestinal tract hemorrhage. Anal incontinence may be multifactorial, behavior modification and biofeedback may help to avoid surgery.     

Jejunal Diverticulitis

A case of perforated jejunal diverticulitis in a 44-yr-old man is described and the literature is reviewed. Jejunal diverticulosis occurs in 0.07% to 2% of the population. Enteroclysis is the best diagnostic test. Diverticulitis with perforation is rare and is associated with high mortality. Treatment is surgical resection of the involved segment. Other complications are bacterial overgrowth, obstruction, and acute hemorrhage. Several theories to explain the physiopathogenesis of the diverticula formation may relate to manometric or histological abnormalities of the small bowel.     

The spectrum of segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis

Background Segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis (SCAD) has been defined as chronic colonic inflammation surrounding diverticula with rectal sparing. Distinguishing this condition from inflammatory bowel disease may be difficult. Our aim was to evaluate the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of SCAD in our area.Methods Retrospective case identification with prospective follow-up was done. Patients with endoscopic findings suggestive of SCAD were enrolled. The epidemiological, clinical, and histological characteristics of these patients were analyzed.Results Out of 605 patients with diverticulosis, 23 cases of SCAD were identified (3.8%). Four patients had histological characteristics suggestive of ulcerative colitis, in 1 case the histology was suggestive of ischemic colitis, 6 patients had histology compatible with SCAD, and the remaining patients had either transitional mucosa or minimal lesions. Four cases were refractory to conservative treatment (mesalamine and antibiotics) and surgery was required. No cases of extension of colonic inflammation in diverticula-free areas were found.Conclusions Segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis is not a rare disorder. It may occur with a spectrum of clinical and histologic features and may be confused with ulcerative colitis. The majority of the cases respond to medical therapy with antibiotics and/or mesalamine, whereas few cases are refractory and need surgery. No evolution to inflammatory bowel disease was observed.     

Relief of small bowel obstruction following colonoscopy in a case of gallstone ileus

We describe a patient who presented with mechanical obstruction of the small bowel secondary to impaction of the ileocecal valve from a gallstone. The stone impaction of the ileocecal valve was confirmed by colonoscopy. Although the stone was disimpacted, it could not be trapped and extracted during colonoscopy. Thereafter, the patient's small bowel obstruction was relieved with no further intervention. Even though surgery is the gold standard for the management of gallstone ileus. colonoscopy can be useful in management of patients with gallstone ileus in whom surgery is contraindicated. A review of the literature is also presented.     

Prevalence and distribution of the colonic diverticulosis. Review of 417 cases from Lower Silesia in Poland

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of colonic diverticulosis increases with age and is the most common pathology of the large bowel in the elderly. Studies of the frequency of colon diverticulosis are performed in necroptic, radiological and endoscopic surveys. AIM: The assessment of the prevalence and distribution of colonic diverticulosis evaluated with barium enemas. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 1,912 consecutive barium enemas examinations, performed between 1999-2002 were reviewed. The patients were 1,228 females and 684 males (mean age 55.4 yrs). RESULTS: Diverticula were observed in 21.7 percent (417) of the patients (279 females /mean age 64.1/ and 138 males /mean age 64.5 yrs). The prevalence of diverticulosis among females was 22.7 percent and among males 20.2 percent. The frequency of diverticulosis in patients aged 30-39 years was 5.3 percent, 40-49 years - 8.7 percent, 50-59 years - 19.4 percent, 60-69 years - 29.6 percent, 70-79 years - 40.2 per cent, and in those aged over 80 years it was 57.9 percent. CONCLUSIONS: Diverticular disease of the colon is a significant problem in elderly patients, both females and males. The most common occurrence is in the sigmoid and descending colon.     

Prevalence of polyps and diverticulosis of the large bowel in the Cretan population. An autopsy study

While a number of studies have been performed in the United States, northern Europe, and some other countries on the epidemiology of large bowel polyps and diverticulosis, information from southern Europe and especially Greece is very limited. Our autopsy study sought to determine the prevalence of large bowel polyps and diverticulosis in the population on Crete. Specimens of colon and rectum were obtained during forensic postmortem autopsies and examined for the presence of polypoid lesions and diverticulosis. Data were collected from a total of 502 autopsies (320 men, 182 women; median age 65 years (range 16-93). Polyps were found in 106 cases (21.1%). These were adenomas in 73 cases (14.5%), hyperplastic polyps in 25 (4.9%), and mucosal tags in 8 (1.5%). Diverticulosis of the large bowel was found in 115 (22.9%). The prevalence of adenomas and diverticulosis increased with advanced age. The prevalence of colonic diverticulosis in Crete is slightly lower than that which has been reported in most other studies in economically developed countries. The prevalence of colorectal adenomas in Crete is one of the lowest rates reported in Europe and is compatible to the known low incidence of colorectal cancer in Crete.     

Jejunal diverticulosis with perforation as a complication of Fabry's disease

This study presents the case of a patient who had jejunal diverticulosis with perforation and abscess formation as a complication of Fabry's disease. Light microscopy disclosed glycolipid deposition in the neurons and nerve fibers of the intestinal nerve plexuses and smooth muscle. Silver stains of the myenteric plexus in the involved segment of the bowel showed enlarged, granular argyrophobic neurons and a marked decrease in the number of argyrophilic neurons, with those remaining being enlarged and distorted by the cytoplasmic glycolipid accumulation. These abnormalities of the myenteric plexus suggest that jejunal diverticulosis may be the result of a variety of disorders of the smooth muscle or myenteric plexus, or both. We propose that jejunal diverticulosis in our patient was a consequence of uncoordinated smooth muscle activity resulting from Fabry's involvement of myenteric plexus neurons, with mucosal protrusion through the smooth muscle.