eMedicine Specialties > Gastroenterology > Intestine
Diverticulosis, Small Intestinal: Follow-up
Updated: Apr 12, 2006
Follow-up
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.
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.
Deterrence/Prevention
- Preventive care is not available. A high-fiber diet may be useful.
Complications
- Chronic abdominal pain
- Diverticulitis
- Intestinal obstruction
- Intestinal hemorrhage
- Malabsorption
Prognosis
- Prognosis is good even with complications.
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.
Miscellaneous
Medicolegal Pitfalls
- A high index of clinical awareness is needed to avoid missing this condition. Therefore, any patient with unresolved symptoms, complications, or recurrent symptoms should be evaluated further. The diagnosis can still be missed.
More on Diverticulosis, Small Intestinal |
| Overview: Diverticulosis, Small Intestinal |
| Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Diverticulosis, Small Intestinal |
| Treatment & Medication: Diverticulosis, Small Intestinal |
Follow-up: Diverticulosis, Small Intestinal |
| References |
| « Previous Page |
References
Akhrass R, Yaffe MB, Fischer C. Small-bowel diverticulosis: perceptions and reality. J Am Coll Surg. Apr 1997;184(4):383-8. [Medline].
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].
Donald JW. Major complications of small bowel diverticula. Ann Surg. Aug 1979;190(2):183-8. [Medline].
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].
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 and Co;1998.
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].
Isselbacher KJ, Ebstein A. Diverticular, vascular and other disorders of the intestine and peritoneum. In: Fauci A, ed. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. New York, NY:. McGraw-Hill Inc;1998:1648-1649.
Mark B. Small Intestine. In: Seymour I, Schwartz G, eds. Principles of Surgery. New York, NY:. McGraw-Hill Inc;1999:1247-1249.
Rubesin SE. Simplified approach to differential diagnosis of small bowel abnormalities. Radiol Clin North Am. Mar 2003;41(2):343-64, vii. [Medline].
Sanford JP, Gilbert DN, Moellering RC. The Sanford Guide to Antimicrobial Therapy 1999. USA Antibiotic Therapy Incorporation. 1999;02-1333. [Full Text].
Further Reading
Keywords
diverticular disease of the small bowel, mucosal herniations, abnormalities in peristalsis, intestinal dyskinesis, high segmental intraluminal pressures, true diverticula, false diverticula, Meckel's diverticulum, intraluminal diverticula, extraluminal diverticula, duodenal diverticula, jejunal diverticula, ileal diverticula, jejunoileal diverticula, diverticulitis, GI hemorrhage, intestinal obstruction, acute perforation, pancreatic disease, biliary disease
Follow-up: Diverticulosis, Small Intestinal