clinical features
Last reviewed 01/2018
Duodenal diverticula are usually asymptomatic. However, 'blind loop' symptoms - epigastric pain after eating, nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea and weight loss, can be attributed to a diverticulum if its removal abolishes them.
Complications of duodenal diverticula include:
- penetration of the retroperitoneum or head of pancreas leading to fistula or abscess formation
- perforation into the peritoneal cavity
- haemorrhage
- malignancy
- enterolith formation
- biliary obstruction, leading to:
- stasis, infection and cholangitis
- ductal stones
- recurrent pancreatitis