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Abdominal cystic mass in infancy--in utero perforated Meckel's diverticulum?

Enaam Raboei1, Ali A Eltayeb, Reijo Luoma

  • 1Department of Paediatric Surgery, King Fahd Armed Forces Hospital, P.O. Box 9862, 21159 Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. enaam_raboei@hotmail.com

Pediatric Surgery International
|September 29, 2004
PubMed

Insights

A rare giant Meckel's diverticulum can cause serious complications like perforation, even in newborns. This case highlights a neonate with an intra-abdominal pseudocyst likely from in-utero perforation of a giant Meckel's diverticulum.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Gastrointestinal Pathology
  • Neonatal Medicine

Background:

  • Meckel's diverticulum is a congenital anomaly affecting 2% of the population.
  • Complications such as bleeding, intussusception, diverticulitis, volvulus, or perforation occur in 4% of cases.
  • These complications can manifest at any age, including the neonatal period.

Observation:

  • A 3-month-old infant presented with a large intra-abdominal pseudocyst.
  • The pseudocyst was suspected to be a result of a giant Meckel's diverticulum.
  • Evidence suggested the perforation likely occurred in utero.

Findings:

  • The case describes a rare instance of a giant Meckel's diverticulum.
  • The likely in-utero perforation led to significant intra-abdominal pathology.
  • This resulted in the formation of a large pseudocyst in a neonate.

Implications:

  • This case underscores the potential for severe congenital gastrointestinal complications.
  • Early recognition and management of Meckel's diverticulum complications are crucial in neonates.
  • Giant Meckel's diverticula, though rare, can lead to life-threatening conditions requiring prompt surgical intervention.

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