A Case of Subtotal Colectomy for Intractive Bleeding of Diverticula of the Entire Colon

Abstract

The patient was a 78-year-old man diagnosed as having diverticula of the entire colon who experienced three episodes of diverticular bleeding that had started two years previously. He visited us again with a chief complaint of melena, was diagnosed as having diverticular bleeding in the sigmoid colon, and was hospitalized. He was discharged after hemostasis was achieved, but bleeding recurred two weeks later. He was therefore considered as a candidate for surgery. Refractory diverticular bleeding was found in the entire colon, and we judged a subtotal colectomy to be necessary. To avoid postoperative dyschezia, we used an operative method that preserved the ileocecal region and obtained good results in terms of his postoperative bowel habits. Diverticula of the entire colon are rare, but surgery is necessary in cases of repeated bleeding. In such cases, subtotal colectomy with preservation of the ileocecal junction is thought to be useful.