Small Intestinal Diverticulosis Follow-up

  • Author: Rohan C Clarke, MD; Chief Editor: Julian Katz, MD   more...
 
Updated: Jan 4, 2010
 

Further Inpatient Care

  • Inpatient treatment is indicated only in patients presenting with complications. The duration of such admission depends on the nature of the complication and the interventions rendered. Once inflammation/infection has resolved, endoscopic modalities may be employed to further evaluate and treat, if possible.
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Further Outpatient Care

  • No special follow-up care is necessary.
  • Educate patients concerning the likely complications of small intestinal diverticulosis. Recommend a high-fiber diet posthospitalization.
  • Patients should know that symptoms must be promptly reported to their physician.
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Deterrence/Prevention

  • Preventive care is not available. A high-fiber diet may be useful.
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Complications

  • Chronic abdominal pain
  • Diverticulitis
  • Intestinal obstruction
  • Intestinal hemorrhage
  • Malabsorption
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Prognosis

  • Prognosis is good even with complications.
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Patient Education

  • Patients should understand the benign nature of the disease.
  • Patients should know where to seek help if complications develop.
  • Patients should know that no definitive cure for this entity exists.
  • For excellent patient education resources, visit eMedicine's Esophagus, Stomach, and Intestine Center. Also, see eMedicine's patient education article Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis.
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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Rohan C Clarke, MD  Consulting Staff, Department of Gastroenterology, JPS Health Systems Hospital

Rohan C Clarke, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Gastroenterology, American College of Physicians, American Gastroenterological Association, and American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Disclosure: Salix Honoraria Round table feedback group

Coauthor(s)

Rachael M Ferraro, DO  Internal Medicine Hospitalist, Torrance Memorial Medical Center, Little Company of Mary Hospital

Rachael M Ferraro, DO is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Osteopathic Internists, American College of Physicians, and American Osteopathic Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Lisa Ozick, MD  Former Chief, Division of Gastroenterology, Harlem Hospital Center

Lisa Ozick, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Gastroenterology, American College of Physicians, American Gastroenterological Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, and Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Oluyinka S Adediji, MD  Consulting Staff, Department of Adult and General Medicine, Health Services Incorporated, Montgomery, Alabama

Oluyinka S Adediji, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians and American Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

David Eric Bernstein, MD  Director of Hepatology, North Shore University Hospital; Professor of Clinical Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine

David Eric Bernstein, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, American College of Gastroenterology, American College of Physicians, American Gastroenterological Association, and American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Douglas M Heuman, MD, FACP, FACG, AGAF  Chief of Hepatology, Hunter Holmes McGuire Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine

Douglas M Heuman, MD, FACP, FACG, AGAF is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, American College of Physicians, and American Gastroenterological Association

Disclosure: Novartis Grant/research funds Other; Bayer Grant/research funds Other; Otsuka Grant/research funds None; Bristol Myers Squibb Grant/research funds Other; Scynexis None None; Salix Grant/research funds Other; MannKind Other

Alex J Mechaber, MD, FACP  Senior Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education, Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine

Alex J Mechaber, MD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, and Society of General Internal Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Julian Katz, MD  Clinical Professor of Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Department of Medicine, Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hospital of the Medical College of Pennsylvania

Julian Katz, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Gastroenterology, American College of Physicians, American Gastroenterological Association, American Geriatrics Society, American Medical Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics, American Trauma Society, Association of American Medical Colleges, and Physicians for Social Responsibility

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

  1. Harford VH. Diverticula. In: Feldman M, Scharschmidt BF, Zorab R, Sleisenger MH, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology/Diagnosis/Management. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 1998.

  2. Isselbacher KJ, Ebstein A. Diverticular, vascular and other disorders of the intestine and peritoneum. In: Fauci AS, Braunwald E, Isselbacher KJ, et al, eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 14th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Inc; 1998:1648-9.

  3. Mark B. Small intestine. In: Seymour I, Schwartz G, eds. Principles of Surgery. New York: McGraw-Hill Inc; 1999:1247-9.

  4. Wiesner W, Beglinger Ch, Oertli D, Steinbrich W. Juxtapapillary duodenal diverticula: MDCT findings in 1010 patients and proposal for a new classification. JBR-BTR. Jul-Aug 2009;92(4):191-4. [Medline].

  5. Olson DE, Kim YW, Donnelly LF. CT findings in children with Meckel diverticulum. Pediatr Radiol. Jul 2009;39(7):659-63; quiz 766-7. [Medline].

  6. Yang XY, Chen CX, Zhang BL, et al. Diagnostic effect of capsule endoscopy in 31 cases of subacute small bowel obstruction. World J Gastroenterol. May 21 2009;15(19):2401-5. [Medline].

  7. Akhrass R, Yaffe MB, Fischer C. Small-bowel diverticulosis: perceptions and reality. J Am Coll Surg. Apr 1997;184(4):383-8. [Medline].

  8. Carey EJ, Fleischer DE. Investigation of the small bowel in gastrointestinal bleeding--enteroscopy and capsule endoscopy. Gastroenterol Clin North Am. Dec 2005;34(4):719-34. [Medline].

  9. Dietrich CF, Braden B. Sonographic assessments of gastrointestinal and biliary functions. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 2009;23(3):353-67. [Medline].

  10. Donald JW. Major complications of small bowel diverticula. Ann Surg. Aug 1979;190(2):183-8. [Medline].

  11. Eckhauser FE, Zelenock GB, Freier DT. Acute complications of jejuno-ileal pseudodiverticulosis: surgical implications and management. Am J Surg. Aug 1979;138(2):320-3. [Medline].

  12. Hartmann D, Schmidt H, Bolz G. A prospective two-center study comparing wireless capsule endoscopy with intraoperative enteroscopy in patients with obscure GI bleeding. Gastrointest Endosc. Jun 2005;61(7):826-32. [Medline].

  13. Rubesin SE. Simplified approach to differential diagnosis of small bowel abnormalities. Radiol Clin North Am. Mar 2003;41(2):343-64, vii. [Medline].

  14. Sanford JP, Gilbert DN, Moellering RC. The Sanford Guide to Antimicrobial Therapy 1999. Sperryville, Va: Antimicrobial Therapy, Inc; 1999:02-1333. [Full Text].

 
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