Asymptomatic gastric diverticulum as incidental radiographic finding after surgery for strangulated inguinal hernia: Report of a case

INTRODUCTION: Gastric diverticula consist a rare form of diverticula of the gastrointestinal tract. They can be described as an “out-pouching” protrusion from the gastric wall. They are usually found in patients aged between 20 and 60 years old. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We present herein a case of an 82 year- old male patient who was admitted to our hospital with a strangulated inguinal hernia and a gastric diverticulum was incidentally found, as a post- operative radiographic finding. DISCUSSION: For symptomatic gastric diverticula, a conservative treatment is usually preferred as first approach with PPIs and soft diet to alleviate the symptoms. Surgical treatment as first approach should be preserved for cases where a connection has been established between the patients’ symptoms and the clinical presentation. CONCLUSION: Resection via laparoscopic surgery is nowadays the method of choice for the treatment of gastric diverticula. Open surgery is still performed through a median laparotomy or a subcostal incision.