Meckel's Diverticulum as a Rare Etiology of Small-Bowel Obstruction in an Otherwise Healthy Adult: A Case Report

Meckel's diverticulum is the most common congenital anomaly of the gastrointestinal tract and is often asymptomatic in adults. When symptomatic, adult presentations frequently involve obstruction or inflammation and can be difficult to diagnose preoperatively due to nonspecific imaging findings. We report a case of a healthy 31-year-old male with progressive abdominal pain, distention, and emesis, ultimately found to have a high-grade small-bowel obstruction refractory to conservative management. Diagnostic laparoscopy identified a Meckel's diverticulum tethered to the retroperitoneum at the transition point, and laparoscopic diverticulectomy relieved the obstruction. Histopathology demonstrated a true diverticulum without ectopic mucosa. This case highlights the importance of maintaining Meckel's diverticulum in the differential diagnosis of unexplained small-bowel obstruction in younger adults and highlights the value of timely operative exploration when conservative therapy fails.