Lower gastrointestinal bleeding due to jejunal diverticula

A 91-year-old patient was hospitalized for further studies due to rectal bleeding, with no origin identified by gastroscopy or colonoscopy. During an episode of rectal bleeding, a CT angiogram identified contrast extravasation from diverticula of the small intestine (Fig. 1).

Figure 1

Given the active bleeding and hemodynamic repercussions, urgent surgery was performed. We identified a proximal jejunal segment measuring about 25 cm that included several diverticula with hematic content, performing resection and primary anastomosis. Subsequent postoperative evolution was good, and the patient was discharged on the 4th postoperative day.

Jejunal diverticula are a rare pathology (approximate prevalence 1%–2%) and are a possible cause of gastrointestinal bleeding.

Conflict of interests

The authors have no economic, professional, or personal conflict of interests to declare.