Meckel's diverticulum in paediatric practice on Crete (Greece): a 10-year review

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Surgery
• Gastroenterology
• Congenital Abnormalities

Background:

• Meckel's diverticulum (MD) is the most common congenital gastrointestinal abnormality.
• MD presents with diverse clinical manifestations, posing diagnostic challenges.
• Understanding its epidemiology and presentation is crucial for timely diagnosis and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the varied presentations of Meckel's diverticulum.
• To document the epidemiologic features of MD in Crete.
• To analyze detection techniques and treatment strategies for MD.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of surgical records for children with MD.
• Analysis of patient data including age, gender, clinical features, and investigations.
• Surgical interventions and histopathological findings were examined.

Main Results:

• 45 pediatric patients (32 male, 13 female) diagnosed with MD were analyzed.
• MD was incidental in 25 patients (appendicitis); 20 were symptomatic with peritonitis, obstruction, or bleeding.
• Diagnostic tools included ultrasound and Meckel's Tc99 scan; 7 patients presented with lower GI bleeding.

Conclusions:

• Meckel's diverticulectomy with appendicectomy was performed on all patients.
• The incidence of MD in the studied population is approximately 1-2%.
• A high index of suspicion is essential for diagnosing MD in pediatric patients due to potential misdiagnosis.