Intestinal obstruction caused by omphalomesenteric duct remnant: usefulness of laparoscopy

The anomalies related to omphalomesenteric duct remnant constitute an uncommon cause of intestinal obstruction, of which Meckel"s diverticulum and its variants represent the most important clinical presentation. In most cases they are asymptomatic and usually affect young patients. When symptomatic, they usually present episodes of gastrointestinal bleeding or acute abdomen syndromes caused by strangulation of intestinal loops as a result of fibrous intraabdominal remnants or inflammation produced by the diverticulum. In most cases, the unexpected presence of these alterations makes intraoperative diagnosis necessary. Treatment is surgical and consists in exeresis of the diverticulum or the fibrous band causing the clinical picture. We report two cases of persistence of the vitelline duct resolved by laparoscopic approach.