SEVERE ABDOMINAL-PAIN AND THROMBOCYTOPENIA - TYPICAL SYMPTOMS OF OCCULT JEJUNAL DIVERTICULUM PERFORATION

Complicated small-bowel diverticula cause abdominal pain, gastrointest inal hemorrhage, small-bowel obstruction, and peritonitis. The present patient, had an occult perforation of a small-bowel diverticulum. The re were diverticula throughout the whole small bowel. Preoperatively t hrombocytopenia (98000 thrombocytes/cc), was noted. Without any specia l treatment, i.e., transfusion, the thrombocyte level increased after surgical treatment to normal levels, Although the incidence of small-b owel diverticula appears to be low (0.1%-2.3%), complications may beco me life-threatening. The level of thrombocytopenia may reflect the ext ent of inflammation.