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Perforated Meckels diverticulum causing giant pseudocyst and secondary appendicitis

Joseph John1, Kamalesh Pal, Vinod Prem Singh

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana 141 008, Punjab, India. drjj@rediffmail.com

Indian Pediatrics
|December 8, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Meckel's diverticulum perforation can lead to rare complications. This case report details a giant pseudocyst and secondary appendicitis in an infant, a previously undocumented presentation.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Gastrointestinal Surgery
  • Surgical Pathology

Background:

  • Meckel's diverticulum is a congenital anomaly of the small intestine.
  • Complications of Meckel's diverticulum are varied but perforation is uncommon.
  • Giant pseudocyst formation and secondary appendicitis are not previously described sequelae.

Observation:

  • A five-and-a-half-month-old infant presented with symptoms suggestive of complications from Meckel's diverticulum.
  • Imaging revealed a large pseudocyst in close proximity to the appendix.
  • Surgical exploration confirmed Meckel's diverticulum perforation, a giant pseudocyst, and appendicitis.

Findings:

  • The infant's condition was attributed to a perforated Meckel's diverticulum.
  • The perforation led to the formation of a large pseudocyst.
  • Secondary inflammation and infection of the appendix (appendicitis) were observed.

Implications:

  • This case expands the spectrum of known Meckel's diverticulum complications.
  • Highlights the importance of considering rare presentations in pediatric surgical emergencies.
  • Suggests a potential pathway for pseudocyst and secondary appendicitis development following diverticular perforation.

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