Duodenal diverticulum

Abstract

Introduction: diverticulum of the small intestine are rare, its incidence ranges between 0,06 % and 5,00 % of cases. They can be asymptomatic or manifest nonspecific symptoms until the onset of complications such as bleeding or perforation.

Objective: to present the case of a patient with chronic anemia without apparent cause, who was diagnosed with a duodenal diverticulum.

Case presentation: female patient, 78 years old, with a pathological history of surgical intervention of the bile duct (53 years ago) and arterial hypertension, controlled with hygienic, dietary and pharmacological treatment. She went to the consultation to present diffuse abdominal pain of several days of evolution, more localized in the upper hemiabdomen, and with greater intensity in the epigastrium. It is accompanied by disgust at meals, vomiting with food debris and bile secretion (after each ingestion), always preceded by nausea.

Discussion: generally patients with this disease do not present clinical manifestations for a long period of time. This causes complications at the time of diagnosis. However, some patients with diverticulum of the small intestine may have chronic symptoms, such as anemia, which was diagnosed in the patient.

Conclusions: diverticular disease of the small intestine is rare and sometimes asymptomatic. Its complications can be confused with other more common disease. In this case, the specialists took into account the fact that she was an elderly patient with chronic anemia without apparent cause, as an orientation for a possible diagnosis of duodenal diverticulum (confirmed by the imaging study).