Meckel's diverticulum in the pediatric surgical population

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Surgery
• Gastroenterology
• Congenital Anomalies

Background:

• Meckel's diverticulum is the most frequent congenital abnormality of the gastrointestinal tract.
• It can lead to various clinical manifestations in children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the clinical experience with Meckel's diverticulum in pediatric patients.
• To analyze the presentation, diagnosis, and outcomes of surgical management.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 31 pediatric cases of Meckel's diverticulum treated between 1966 and 1987.
• Analysis of clinical presentations, diagnostic methods (including technetium scan), and surgical outcomes.

Main Results:

• Twenty-four patients had symptomatic Meckel's diverticulum, with bleeding (10 cases) and obstruction (10 cases) being most common.
• Ectopic gastric mucosa was present in all bleeding cases. Obstruction was due to internal hernia or intussusception.
• Technetium scan identified Meckel's diverticulum in 6 out of 7 cases. Diverticulitis mimicked appendicitis.

Conclusions:

• Meckel's diverticulum presents with diverse clinical symptoms in children, including bleeding, obstruction, and diverticulitis.
• Surgical resection of Meckel's diverticulum in children is associated with excellent outcomes, with no complications or mortality observed.