The prevalence and significance of pseudodiverticulosis of the small intestine

Diverticula of the small intestine were found in four among 358 consecutive major abdominal surgical procedures (1.1%). The prevalence rate was 4% among patients over the age of 70 years. All of the discovered diverticula were located in the proximal jejunum. Two patients had single, two had multiple diverticula. All patients were women (aged 73, 78, 81 and 86 years). In three the finding was by chance: in one the operation had been done for a perforating duodenal ulcer, in two because of ileus. The 86-year-old woman was operated for lower intestinal bleeding. During the operation a solitary diverticulum, the cause of the bleeding, was excised.