Perforated Meckel Diverticulum Caused by Vegetal Food Entrapment: A Rare Case Report and Literature Review

BACKGROUND Meckel diverticulum is the most common congenital anomaly of the gastrointestinal tract. It results from incomplete obliteration of the vitelline duct, leading to the formation of a true diverticulum of the small intestine, and is often clinically silent. However, complications can occur, including gastrointestinal bleeding, bowel obstruction, Meckel's diverticulitis, or perforation. CASE REPORT We present the case of a 62-year-old male patient in good health, with no prior history of surgery, who presented with abdominal pain in the right iliac fossa and elevated C-reactive protein levels. An abdominal ultrasound showed signs of acute appendicitis. During surgical laparoscopic exploration, which was converted to a median laparotomy, an inflamed perforated Meckel diverticulum caused by a foreign body was discovered. Due to the inflammation, a segmental small bowel resection with an ileo-ileal latero-lateral anastomosis was performed. CONCLUSIONS The surgical management of Meckel diverticulum depends on several factors, including the presence of inflammation, perforation, infection, and the size of the diverticulum. Diverticulectomy, which can be easily performed laparoscopically, typically has a lower complication rate. Nevertheless, in cases of bleeding or severe inflammation, a small bowel resection may be needed to ensure that all heterotopic mucosa is removed. This report highlights a rare case of perforation caused by a foreign body of vegetal origin.