Massive rectal bleeding from colonic diverticulosis

Objectives: This is to describe a case of colonic diverticulosis causing massive rectal bleeding in an elderly Nigerian man.Case report: We highlight a case of a 79 year old man who presented with massive rectal bleeding due to colonic diverticulosis from our centre. Colonoscopy identified multiple diverticula in the proximal rectum, sigmoid, descending and transverse colon. The diverticula were more in the descending colon and also oozing blood. He was worked up, and had surgery for hemicolectomy due to massive blood loss following failure of initial conservative management.Conclusion: Colonic divericulosis may cause massive rectal bleeding severe enough to require hemicolectomy. Only few similar cases have been reported in this part of the continent.Keywords: Colon, rectal bleeding, diverticulosis, colonoscop