An 84-year-old woman presented to our hospital with complains of abdominal distension, fever, and nausea. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed multiple diverticula, localized bowel wall thickening in the sigmoid colon, and intestinal dilation. A transanal ileus tube could not be inserted ; therefore, a transverse colon stoma was constructed on the same day. Later on, a sigmoid colectomy was performed.
The cause of bowel obstruction in this patient was sigmoid diverticulitis. Although colorectal diverticulitis is a relatively common disease, it rarely leads to bowel obstruction that require surgical intervention. Surgery is often performed in cases of obstructive colorectal cancer. This may result in overtreatment in surgery, and careful judgment is required during the surgical procedure.
