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Intestinal obstruction caused by torsed gangrenous Meckel's diverticulum encircling terminal ileum

Carmine Cartanese1, Tommaso Petitti, Ernesto Marinelli

  • 1Department of General Surgery, Masselli-Mascia Hospital, 71016 San Severo, Italy.

World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery
|August 24, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Meckel

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology and Surgery

Background:

  • Meckel's diverticulum (MD) is the most common congenital anomaly of the gastrointestinal tract.
  • Complications include hemorrhage, obstruction, and inflammation, with obstruction being the most frequent presentation in adults.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe a rare case of acute small bowel obstruction.
  • To highlight the diagnostic challenges and potential severity of complicated Meckel's diverticulum.

Main Methods:

  • Case report of a patient presenting with acute abdominal symptoms.
  • Review of diagnostic imaging and surgical findings.

Main Results:

  • The patient experienced acute small bowel obstruction due to a giant, torsed, and gangrenous Meckel's diverticulum.
  • The diverticulum encircled the terminal ileum, creating a loop obstruction.
  • This specific combination of axial torsion and loop formation is exceptionally rare.

Conclusions:

  • Complicated Meckel's diverticulum can present with rare obstructive mechanisms.
  • Timely diagnosis is crucial to prevent significant morbidity and mortality.
  • This case underscores the importance of considering Meckel's diverticulum in the differential diagnosis of acute abdomen.
Keywords:
Axial torsionGangreneIntestinal obstructionMeckel’s diverticulumMesodiverticular band

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