We recently encountered two cases of perforated jejunal diverticula. W
e analyzed the data from all available cases of perforated jejunal div
erticula, including our two cases. Our purpose was to increase awarene
ss of this rare clinical entity as a cause of abdominal pain. An exten
sive literature review using Medline(R) from its inception in 1972, an
d a manual review of all previously published reports was performed. D
ata collected included age, gender, length of symptoms from history an
d physical exam, operative findings, type of operation, and outcome (s
urvival). Data analysis was performed using student's t test and multi
variate analysis. Survival was not influenced by gender or type of ope
ration. When the reports documented the number of diverticula present
in the area of perforation (22 cases) a majority (19/22) had multiple
diverticula. Perforated jejunal diverticula are a rare clinical entity
in which age, type of operation, and gender does not influence outcom
e, but a longer duration of symptoms before operation trended towards
a worse outcome. This clinical diagnosis should be entertained as part
of any evaluation of abdominal pain.