# Perforated Jejunal Diverticulitis: Surgical and Antibiotic Management

## TL;DR

This paper discusses a rare case of perforated jejunal diverticulitis in an elderly patient who died despite surgery and antibiotics.

## Contribution

The paper contributes a rare clinical case highlighting the challenges in diagnosing and managing jejunal diverticulitis.

## Key findings

- Jejunal diverticulitis is rare and often difficult to diagnose due to vague symptoms.
- The case resulted in death despite surgical and antibiotic interventions.
- There is limited literature and treatment guidelines for jejunal diverticulitis.

## Abstract

Small bowel diverticulitis occurs at a rate of 0.06% to 1.3%, mainly in individuals over 50, peaking between ages 60 and 70. Duodenal diverticula are the most common (79% of cases), followed by jejunal or ileal diverticula (18%), and diverticula in all segments combined (3%). This condition typically presents with sporadic abdominal pain and vague gastrointestinal symptoms, making diagnosis difficult. We report an 80-year-old male who presented to the emergency department with sudden, left-sided abdominal pain and nausea due to perforated jejunal diverticulitis. Despite undergoing side-to-side jejunojejunostomy and incidental appendectomy, the patient rapidly declined and expired 45 hours post-operation due to septic shock. This case highlights the scarcity of literature on jejunal diverticulitis and its treatment guidelines.