Small Intestinal Diverticulosis Follow-up
- Author: Rohan C Clarke, MD; Chief Editor: Julian Katz, MD more...
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.
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.
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.
Mark B. Small intestine. In: Seymour I, Schwartz G, eds. Principles of Surgery. New York: McGraw-Hill Inc; 1999:1247-9.
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].
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].
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].
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].
Dietrich CF, Braden B. Sonographic assessments of gastrointestinal and biliary functions. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 2009;23(3):353-67. [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].
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].
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. Sperryville, Va: Antimicrobial Therapy, Inc; 1999:02-1333. [Full Text].

