Endoscopic transluminal water irrigation for duodenal diverticulitis

Duodenal diverticula are usually asymptomatic, but complications such as cholestasis, inflammation, abscess formation, and perforation may occur, with clinically significant effects [1, 2]. In certain cases, endoscopic intervention may be chosen over surgery [3, 4]. However, the former is a complicated procedure requiring careful manipulation of the endoscope. A 75-year-old man presented with a high temperature of 38.5 °C and pain in the right upper abdomen. Laboratory findings revealed notable inflammatory results, but with no elevation of liver enzymes or amylase level. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan showed a swollen juxtapapillary duodenal diverticulum containing air and fluid, and an increased concentration of surrounding fatty tissue (▶Fig. 1). There was however no evidence of abscess formation or perforation. In spite of 2 days of fasting and the administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics, there was no clinical improvement, and resistance to conservative treatment was indicated in a subsequent endoscopic examination. Side-viewing endoscopy revealed a juxtapapillary diverticulum impacted with food debris. Following disimpaction of the food debris using forceps, pus was discharged from the diverticulum (▶Fig. 2 a, b). Thereafter, an endoscopic cannula was inserted on the underside of the diverticulum and plenty of water was delivered. A large amount of cylindrical food debris was released from the diverticulum around the cannula (▶Fig. 2 c; ▶Video1). The endoscopic treatment was completed without placement of a drainage tube. A subsequent diverticulogram revealed no residual food debris or perforation (▶Fig. 2d). The patient’s clinical symptoms disappeared and laboratory findings returned to normal immediately after the procedure, which allowed early resumption of oral food intake. No furVideo 1 Disimpaction of food debris at the orifice of the diverticulum led to the discharge of pus. Thereafter, cannulation on the underside of the diverticulum and water irrigation released cylindrical food debris.