Analysis of clinical manifestations of symptomatic acquired jejunoileal d i verticil la r disease

AIM: To analyze systematically our experience over 22 years with symptomatic acquired diverticular disease of the jejunum and ileum, exploring the clinical manifestations and diagnosis of this rare but life-threatening disease.METHODS: The medical records of patients with surgically confirmed symptomatic jejunoileal diverticular disease were retrospectively reviewed. Data collected included demographic data, laboratory results, clinical course (acute or chronic), preoperative diagnosis, and operative findings. Inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) surgical confirmation of jejunoileal diverticular disease and (2)exclusion of congenital diverticula (e.g. Meckel's diverticulum).RESULTS: From January 1982 to July 2004, 28 patients with a total of 29 operations met the study criteria. The male:female ratio was 14:14, and the mean age was 62.6±3.5 years. The most common manifestation was abdominal pain. In nearly half of the patients, the symptoms were chronic. Two patients died after surgery. Only four cases were correctly diagnosed prior to surgery, three by small bowel series.CONCLUSION: Symptomatic acquired small bowel diverticular disease is difficult to diagnose. It should be considered in older patients with unexplained chronic abdominal symptoms. A small bowel series may be helpful in diagnosing this potentially life-threatening disease.

High-fibre diet and Lactobacillus paracasei B21060 in symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease

AIM： To investigate in symptomatic uncomplicated di- verticular disease the efficacy of symbiotics associated with a high-fibre diet on abdominal symptoms. METHODS： This study was a multicentre, 6-too ran- domized, controlled, parallel-group intervention with a preceding 4-wk washout period. Consecutive out- patients with symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease, aged 40-80 years, evaluated in 4 Gastroenterology Units, were enrolled. Symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease patients were randomized to two treatment arms A or B. Treatment A （n = 24 patients） received 1 symbiotic sachet Flortec~ （Lactobacillus paracasei B21060） once daily plus high-fibre diet for 6 mo. Treatment B （n = 21 patients） received high-fibre diet alone for 6 rno. The primary endpoint was regres- sion of abdominal symptoms and change of symptom severity after 3 and 6 mo of treatment. RESULTS： In group A, the proportion of patients with abdominal pain 〈 24 h decreased from 100% at base- line to 35% and 25% after 3 and 6 mo, respectively （P 〈 0.001）. In group B the proportion of patients with this symptom decreased from 90.5% at baseline to 61.9% and 38.1% after 3 and 6 mo, respectively （P = 0.001）. Symptom improvement became statistically sig- nificant at 3 and 6 mo in group A and B, respectively. The proportion of patients with abdominal pain 〉24 h decreased from 60% to 20% then 5% after 3 and 6 too, respectively in group A （P 〈 0.001） and from 33.3% to 9.5% at both 3 and 6 mo in group B （P = 0.03）. In group A the proportion of patients with ab- dominal bloating significantly decreased from 95% to 60% after 3 mo, and remained stable （65%） at 6-mo follow-up （P = 0.005） while in group B, no significant changes in abdominal bloating was observed （P = 0.11）. After 6 mo of treatment, the mean visual analogic scale （VAS） values of both short-lasting abdominal pain （VAS, mean ± SD, group A： 4.6 ± 2.1 vs 2.2 ± 0.8, P = 0.02; group B： 4.6 ± 2.9 vs 2.0 ± 1.9, P = 0.03） and abdom- inal bloating （VAS, mean ± SD, group A： 5.3 ± 2.2 vs 3.0 ± 1.7, P = 0.005; group B： 5.3 ±3.2 vs 2.3 ± 1.9, P = 0.006） decreased in both groups, whilst the VAS values of prolonged abdominal pain decreased in the Flortec group, but remained unchanged in the high-fibre diet group （VAS, mean ± SD, group A： 6.5 ± 1.5 vs 4.5 ± 2.1, P = 0.052; group B： 4.5 ± 3.8 vs 5.5 ± 3.5）. CONCLUSION： A high-fibre diet is effective in relievingabdominal symptoms in symptomatic uncomplicated di- verticular disease. This treatment may be implemented by combining the high-fibre diet with Flortec~.