Laparoscopic approach to symptomatic meckel diverticulum in adults

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Surgical Innovation
• Congenital Malformations

Background:

• Meckel diverticulum (MD) is the most common congenital gastrointestinal malformation, affecting ~2% of the population.
• Symptomatic MD presents rarely in adults (<5%) with complications like bleeding, obstruction, or perforation.
• Optimal management for symptomatic MD remains debated, prompting investigation into laparoscopic approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the literature and highlight the diagnostic and therapeutic role of laparoscopy in symptomatic Meckel diverticulum.
• To evaluate the effectiveness and outcomes of laparoscopic procedures for MD management.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, Medline, Google Scholar, Ovid, and Cochrane.
• Included English-language case series on adult patients with symptomatic MD, focusing on laparoscopic interventions.
• Data extracted included patient demographics, presentation, diagnostic methods, surgical approach, outcomes, and complications.

Main Results:

• Analysis of 5 articles encompassing 35 cases of symptomatic MD managed laparoscopically.
• Pooled data detailed patient characteristics, length of stay, conversion rates, resection methods, and complications.
• Comparison of laparoscopic versus open surgical approaches for MD was also performed.

Conclusions:

• The laparoscopic approach demonstrates efficacy in both diagnosing and treating symptomatic Meckel diverticulum.
• While effective, further large-scale studies are required to establish laparoscopy as the definitive gold standard for MD management.