Gastrointestinal hemorrhage from a duodenal diverticulum

A review of the literature of bleeding duodenal diverticula is presented. Two adequately documented cases of bleeding from duodenal diverticula have been found. A third case is described of massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage from such a lesion, which was adequately controlled by surgery, although death followed, caused by overwhelming postoperative pneumonia. The uncontrollable or recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding in a patient with a radiographically demonstrable duodenal diverticulum and no other significant lesion should be considered an indication for exploration.