Meckel's diverticulum

Meckel's diverticulum is the commonest congenital abnormality of the small bowel.

Many people with Meckel's diverticulum remain asymptomatic for their entire lives.

The majority of symptomatic patients present before the age of 2 years.

Gastrointestinal bleeding is a common presenting symptom in children and adults. The most useful diagnostic tool in cases with bleeding is the technetium-99m pertechnetate scan (Meckel's scan).

Obstructive symptoms are another common presenting symptom and may be caused by several mechanisms, including intussusception.

Meckel's diverticulitis occurs in 20% of patients who become symptomatic and is clinically indistinguishable from appendicitis.

Symptomatic Meckel's diverticulum is managed by surgical resection, either with a laparoscopic or open approach.

Meckel's diverticulum is the commonest congenital malformation of the small bowel. The reported prevalence is between 0.3% and 2.9% of the general population.[1]Hansen CC, Søreide K. Systematic review of epidemiology, presentation, and management of Meckel's diverticulum in the 21st century. Medicine (Baltimore). 2018 Aug;97(35):e12154. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6392637 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30170459?tool=bestpractice.com It is a true diverticulum that results from the failure of the vitelline duct to obliterate during the fifth week of fetal development, leading to an intestinal blind pouch. Patients are often asymptomatic. However, this embryological remnant may cause bleeding, obstruction, inflammation, or perforation. It was named after Johann F. Meckel, a German anatomist who described the structure in 1809.[2]Meckel JF. Ueber die Divertikel am Darmkanal. Arch Physiol. 1809;9:421-53.