Appendicitis combined with Meckel’s diverticulum obstruction, perforation, and inflammation in children: Three case reports

BACKGROUND Meckel’s diverticulum is a common congenital malformation of the small intestine,with the three most common complications being obstruction,per-foration,and inflammation.To date,only a few cases have been reported world-wide.In children,the clinical symptoms are similar to appendicitis.As most of the imaging features are nonspecific,the preoperative diagnosis is not precise.In addition,the clinical characteristics are highly similar to pediatric acute appendicitis,thus special attention is necessary to distinguish Meckel’s diver-ticulum from pediatric appendicitis.Patients with poor disease control should undergo laparoscopic exploration to avoid serious complications,including intestinal necrosis,intestinal perforation and gastrointestinal bleeding.CASE SUMMARY This report presents three cases of appendicitis in children combined with intestinal obstruction,which was caused by fibrous bands(ligaments)arising from the top part of Meckel's diverticulum,diverticular perforation,and diver-ticular inflammation.All three patients,aged 11-12 years,had acute appendicitis as their initial clinical presentation.All were treated by laparoscopic surgery with a favorable outcome.A complete dataset including clinical presentation,dia-gnostic imaging,surgical information,and histopathologic findings was also provided.CONCLUSION Preoperative diagnosis of Meckel’s diverticulum and its complications is challenging because its clinical signs and complications are similar to those of appendicitis in children.Laparoscopy combined with laparotomy is useful for diagnosis and treatment.

Single-center retrospective study of the diagnostic value of doubleballoon enteroscopy in Meckel’s diverticulum with bleeding

BACKGROUND The study aimed to analyze the characteristic clinical manifestations of patients with intestinal disease Meckel’s diverticulum(MD)complicated by digestive tract hemorrhage.Moreover,we aimed to evaluate the value of double-balloon enteroscopy(DBE)in MD diagnosis and the prognosis after laparoscopic diverticula resection.AIM To evaluate the value of DBE in the diagnosis and the prognosis after laparoscopic diverticula resection for MD with bleeding.METHODS The study retrospectively analyzed relevant data from 84 MD patients treated between January 2015 and March 2022 and recorded their clinical manifestations,auxiliary examination,and follow-up after laparoscopic resection of diverticula.RESULTS(1)Among 84 MD patients complicated with hemorrhage,77 were male,and 7 were female with an average age of 31.31±10.75 years.The incidence was higher in men than in women of different ages;(2)Among the 84 MD patients,65(78.40%)had defecated dark red stools,and 50(58.80%)had no accompanying symptoms during bleeding,indicating that most MD bleeding appeared a dark red stool without accompanying symptoms;(3)The shock index of 71 patients(85.20%)was<1,suggesting that the blood loss of most MD patients was less than 20%–30%,and only a few patients had a blood loss of>30%;(4)The DBE-positive rate was 100%(54/54),99mTcpertechnetate-positive scanning rate was 78%(35/45)compared with capsule endoscopy(36%)and small intestine computed tomography(19%).These results suggest that DBE and 99mTc-pertechnetate scans had significant advantages in diagnosing MD and bleeding,especially DBE was a highly precise examination method in MD diagnosis;(5)A total of 54 MD patients with hemorrhage underwent DBE examination before surgery.DBE endoscopy revealed many mucosal manifestations including normal appearance,inflammatory changes,ulcerative changes,diverticulum inversion,and nodular hyperplasia,with ulcerative changes being the most common(53.70%).This suggests that diverticular mucosal ulcer was the main cause of MD and bleeding;and(6)Laparoscopic dissection of diverticulae was performed in 76 patients,The patients who underwent postoperative follow-up did not experience any further bleeding.Additionally,follow-up examination of the 8 cases who had declined surgery revealed that 3 of them experienced a recurrence of digestive tract bleeding.These findings indicate that laparoscopic diverticula resection in MD patients complicated by bleeding had a favorable prognosis.CONCLUSION Bleeding associated with MD was predominantly observed in male adolescents,particularly at a young age.DBE was a highly precise examination method in MD diagnosis.Laparoscopic diverticula resection effectively prevented MD bleeding and had a good prognosis.

Postoperative intestinal obstruction caused by Meckel’s diverticulitis after appendectomy

Surgical treatment of the complications associated with Meckel’s diverticulum is widely accepted, but surgical management of an asymptomatic diverticulum found incidentally during laparotomy for other reasons is controversial. Appendectomy is the most common reason for laparotomy in many pediatric surgery clinics. The most common causes of an intestinal obstruction in the early period after appendectomy are an intra-abdominal abscess, adhesive small bowel obstruction and invagination. Obstruction due to Meckel’s diverticulum is reported rarely. In this study, we present 2 cases, five and eleven years old, with an asymptomatic Meckel’s diverticulum where appendectomy was performed due to acute and perforated appendicitis and obstruction developed due to Meckel’s diverticulitis in the postoperative early stage. Meckel’s diverticulitis must be considered in intestinal obstruction cases developing in the early stages after appendectomy although quite rare.

Lipoma within inverted Meckel’s diverticulum as a cause of recurrent partial intestinal obstruction and hemorrhage: A case report and review of literature

Lipoma within an inverted Meckel's diverticulum presen- ting with hemorrhage and partial intestinal obstruction is an exceptional clinical entity. We report a case of 47-year-old male with a history of recurrent episodes of partial intestinal obstruction and melena due to a subserosal lipoma located in the base of an inverted Meckel's diverticulum. According to our knowledge, this is the first case of a lipoma within a Meckel's diverticulum giving rise to this clinical scenario without the existence of heterotrophic gastric or pancreatic tissues.

Inverted Meckel's diverticulum as a cause of occult lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage

Meckel's diverticulum is a common asymptomatic congenital gastrointestinal anomaly,but rarely it can present with hemorrhage.Over the last few years inverted Meckel's diverticulum has been reported in the literature with increasing frequency as an occult source of lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage.Here,we report a case of a 54-year-old male,who was referred for surgical evaluation with persistent anemia and occult blood per rectum after a work up which failed to localize the source over 12 mo,including upper and capsule endoscopy,colonoscopy,enteroclysis,Meckel scan,and tagged nuclear red blood cell scan.An abdominal computed tomography scan showed a possible mid-ileal intussusception and intraluminal mass.During the abdominal exploration,inverted Meckel's diverticulum was diagnosed and resected.We review the literature,discuss the forms in which the disease presents,the diagnostic modalities utilized,pathological findings,and treatment.Although less than 40 cases have been reported in the English literature from 1978 to 2005,19 cases have been reported in the last 6 years alone(2006-2012) due to improved diagnostic modalities.Successful diagnosis and treatment of this disease requires a high index of clinical suspicion,which is becoming increasingly relevant to general gastroenterologists.

Intestinal obstruction caused by torsed gangrenous Meckel's diverticulum encircling terminal ileum

Meckel's diverticulum(MD)is considered the most prevalent congenital anomaly of the gastrointestinal tract. It may result in a number of complications including hemorrhage,obstruction,and inflammation.Obstruction of various types is the most common presenting symptom in the adult population.Loop formations with the end of an MD and adjacent mesentery constricting the distal ileum is an uncommon cause of obstruction. Axial torsion and gangrene of MD is the rarest of the complications.The correct diagnosis of complicated MD before surgery is often difficult because this condition may mimic other acute abdominal pathologies.Delay in the diagnosis of a complicated MD can lead to signifi- cant morbidity and mortality.Here we describe the case of a patient with a very rare form of acute small bowel obstruction secondary to giant torsed gangrenous MD encircling the terminal ileum.To our knowledge, this co-occurrence of axial torsion and a loop-forming mechanism of obstruction has been reported only once in English medical literature.

Inverted Meckel’s diverticulum manifested as adult intussusception: Age does not matter

Adult intussusception due to Meckel’s diverticulum (MD) is an uncommon cause of intestinal obstruction. However, the surgeon should still be suspicious of this condition since the non specific symptoms and the rarity of it make a preoperative diagnosis uncertain. Considering the secondary nature of adult intussusception and the necessity of early surgical intervention to avoid morbidity and mortality, we report two cases of intussusception due to MD in adults. A diverticulectomy using a TA stapler was performed in the first patient. In the second patient extensive fibrosis of the adjacent mesentery and thickening of jejunal mucosa were observed, so a segmental resection of the small bowel or affected ileal part and a hand-sewn anastomosis was performed. The postoperative period along with the long term follow-up was uneventful for both patients. The decision between diverticulectomy vs bowel resection can be based on the intussuscepted bowel condition. Early surgical intervention may ensure a favorable outcome.

Meckel's diverticulum bleeding diagnosed with magnetic resonance enterography:A case report

Although the introduction of double-balloon enteroscopy has greatly improved the diagnostic rate, definite diagnosis of Meckel's diverticulum far from the ileocecal valve is still impossible in most cases. We explored the role of magnetic resonance (MR) enterography in detecting bleeding from Meckel's diverticulum that can not be confirmed via double-balloon enteroscopy. This study describes a case of male patient with bleeding from Meckel's diverticulum diagnosed with MR enterography of the small intestine. No bleeding lesion was found via colonoscopy, anal enteroscopy, or oral colonoscopy. MR enterography of the small intestine revealed an occupying lesion of 3.0 cm in the lower segment of the ileum. The patient was transferred to the Department of Abdominal Surgery of our hospital for surgical treatment. During surgery, a mass of 3 cm × 2 cm was found 150 cm from the ileocecal valve, in conjunction with congestion and edema of the corresponding mesangium. Intraoperative diagnosis was small bowel diverticulum with bleeding. The patient underwent partial resection of the small intestine. Postopera-tive pathology showed Meckel's diverticulum containing pancreatic tissues. He was cured and discharged 7 d after operation. We conclude that MR enterography of the small intestine has greatly improved the diagnosis rate of Meckel's diverticulum, particularly in those patients with the disease which can not be confirmed via double-balloon enteroscopy.

Giant Meckel's diverticulum: An exceptional cause of intestinal obstruction

Meckel's diverticulum(MD) results from incomplete involution of the proximal portion of the vitelline(also known as the omphalomesenteric) duct during weeks 5-7 of foetal development. Although MD is the most commonly diagnosed congenital gastrointestinal anom-aly, it is estimated to affect only 2% of the population worldwide. Most cases are asymptomatic, and diagno-sis is often made following investigation of unexplained gastrointestinal bleeding, perforation, inflammation or obstruction that prompt clinic presentation. While MD range in size from 1-10 cm, cases of giant MD(≥ 5 cm) are relatively rare and associated with more severe forms of the complications, especially for obstruction. Herein, we report a case of giant MD with secondary small bowel obstruction in an adult male that was suc-cessfully managed by surgical resection and anasto-mosis created with endoscopic stapler device(80 mm, endo-GIA stapler). Patient was discharged on post-operative day 6 without any complications. Histopatho-logic examination indicated Meckel's diverticulitis with-out gastric or pancreatic metaplasia.

A case of intussuscepted Meckel’s diverticulum

We report colonoscopic features of an intussuscepted Meckel's diverticulum, presenting with hematochezia. A 35-year-old woman presented to the emergency room with acute onset, transient, sharp, severe epi-gastric pain that began 6 h earlier. Colonoscopy re-vealed a reddish, soft, fi st-sized polypoid lesion in the terminal ileum. The lesion was misinterpreted as a hematoma by an inexperienced endoscopist. The pa-tient began to complain of intermittent, severe peri-umbilical pain following the colonoscopic examination. Subsequent computed tomography showed an enteric intussusception. An exploratory laparotomy revealed an intussuscepted Meckel's diverticulum, with trans-mural infarction. Colonoscopy was of little use in as-sessing the intussusception. However, colonoscopic examination may be performed initially, especially in an intussuscepted Meckel's diverticulum present-ing with hematochezia. Endoscopists should note the endoscopic features of an intussuscepted Meckel's diverticulum.

Torsion of Meckel's diverticulum as a cause of small bowel obstruction: A case report

Axial torsion and necrosis of Meckel's diverticulum causing simultaneous mechanical small bowel obstruc-tion are the rarest complications of this congenital anomaly. This kind of pathology has been reported only eleven times. Our case report presents this very unusual case of Meckel's diverticulum. A 41-year-old man presented at the emergency department with complaints of crampy abdominal pain, nausea and re-tention of stool and gases. Clinical diagnosis was small bowel obstruction. Because the origin of obstruction was unknown, computer tomography was indicated. Computed tomography(CT)-scan revealed dilated small bowel loops with multiple air-fluid levels; the oral con-trast medium had reached the jejunum and proximal parts of the ileum but not the distal small bowel loops or the large bowel; in the right mid-abdomen there was a 11 cm × 6.4 cm × 7.8 cm fluid containing cavity with thickened wall, which was considered a dilated bowel-loop or cyst or diverticulum. Initially the patient was treated conservatively. Because of persistent abdominal pain emergency laparotomy was indicated. Abdominal exploration revealed distended small bowel loops proxi-mal to the obstruction, and a large(12 cm × 14 cm) Meckel's diverticulum at the site of obstruction. Meckel's diverticulum was axially rotated by 720°, which caused small bowel obstruction and diverticular necrosis. About 20 cm of the small bowel with Meckel's diverticulum was resected. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged on the fifth postopera-tive day. We recommend CT-scan as the most useful diagnostic tool in bowel obstruction of unknown origin. In cases of Meckel's diverticulum causing small bowel obstruction, prompt surgical treatment is indicated; de-lay in diagnosis and in adequate treatment may lead to bowel necrosis and peritonitis.

Helicobacter species and gut bacterial DNA in Meckel's diverticulum and the appendix

AIM:To analyse the possible association of various Helicobacter species and certain common gut bacteria in patients with Meckel's diverticulum and appendicitis.METHODS:A nested-polymerase chain reaction (PCR),specific to 16S rRNA of the Helicobacter genus,was performed on paraffin embedded samples,50 with acute appendicitis,50 normal appendixes,and 33 Meckel's diverticulum with gastric heterotopia and/or ulcer.Helicobacter genus positive samples were sequenced for species identification.All samples were also analysed for certain gut bacteria by PCR.RESULTS:Helicobacter pullorum DNA was found in one out of 33 cases and Enterobacteria in two cases of Meckel's diverticulum.Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) was found in three,Enterobacter in 18,and Bacteroides in 19 out of 100 appendix samples by PCR.Enterococcus was not found in any MD or appendix samples.All H.pylori positive cases were from normal appendixes.CONCLUSION:Helicobacter is not an etiological agent in the pathogenesis of symptomatic Meckel's diverticulum or in acute appendicitis.

Gastrointestinal perforation due to incarcerated Meckel's diverticulum in right femoral canal

Meckel's diverticulum is a very common congenital anomaly of the gastrointestinal tract but many cases remain asymptomatic and are diagnosed incidentally during laparoscopic or other surgical procedures. Cases of femoral hernia involving Meckel's diverticulum are rare, with less than 50 cases reported in the literature since Littre published the first description of this coincident condition over 300 years ago. While all true "Littre's hernias" contain a Meckel's diverticulum, the involved anatomical sites are various, the most common being the inner groin(inguinal), the outer groin(femoral), and the belly button(umbilical). Complications of Littre's hernias include incarceration, strangulation, necrosis, and perforation. Herein, we describe a case of Littre's hernia that involved an incarcerated Meckel's diverticulum in a femoral hernia that was diagnosed upon investigation of symptomology manifesting from perforation and was successfully managed by surgical resection with stapler devices.

Laparoscopic surgery for small-bowel obstruction caused by Meckel's diverticulum

A 26-year-old woman was referred to our hospital because of abdominal distention and vomiting. Contrastenhanced computed tomography showed a blind loop of the bowel extending to near the uterus and a fibrotic band connecting the mesentery to the top of the bowel,suggestive of Meckel's diverticulum(MD) and a mesodiverticular band(MDB). After intestinal decompression,elective laparoscopic surgery was carried out. Using three 5-mm ports,MD was dissected from the surrounding adhesion and MDB was divided intracorporeally. And subsequent Meckel's diverticulectomy was performed. The presence of heterotopic gastric mucosa was confirmed histologically. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course and was discharged 5 d after the operation. She has remained healthy and symptom-free during 4 years of follow-up. This was considered to be an unusual case of preoperatively diagnosed and laparoscopically treated small-bowel obstruction due to MD in a young adult woman.

Inverted Meckel's diverticulum: Two case reports and a review of the literature

Gastrointestinal surgeons seldom encounter inverted Meckel's diverticulum in their clinical practice. We describe two cases of inverted Meckel's diverticulum. If the patient has a disease-related complication such as intussusception, as with our first case, it can be easily detected. However, if the patient has subacute or chronic symptoms, as with our second case, the diagnosis might be delayed. Regardless of the diseaserelated complication, intussusception of inverted Meckel's diverticulum can be easily managed with laparoscopic single-port surgery.

Incarceration of Meckel's diverticulum in a left paraduodenal Treitz' hernia

Meckel's diverticula incarcerated in a hernia were first described anecdotally by Littré, a French surgeon, in 1700. Meckel, a German anatomist and surgeon, explained the pathophysiology of this disease 100 years later. In addition, a congenital paraduodenal mesocolic hernia, known as a Treitz hernia, is a rare cause of small bowel obstruction. These hernias are caused by an abnormal rotation of the primitive midgut, resulting in a right or left paraduodenal hernia. We treated a patient presenting with pain and diagnosed extraluminal air in the abdomen after a computed tomography examination. We performed a laparotomy and found a combination of these two seldomly occurring congenital diseases, incarceration and perforation of Meckel's diverticulum in a left paraduodenal hernia. We performed a thorough review of the literature, and this report is the first to describe a patient with a combination of these two rare conditions. We considered the case regarding the variety of terminology as well as the treatment options of these conditions.

Laparoscopic resection for incidentally detected Meckel diverticulum

The management of Meckel diverticulum found un-expectedly during an abdominal operation remains controversial. Most published reports have included only patients undergoing diverticulectomy or bowel resection through laparotomy. We report a case of a carcinoid tumor in a Meckel’s diverticulum which was incidentally detected and removed during laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. Although there is no compelling evidence in the literature to recommend prophylactic diverticulectomy, laparoscopic stapled resection repre-sents a viable and safe approach in healthy individuals undergoing elective surgery for other purposes.

Meckel's diverticulum manifested by a subcutaneous abscess

This case report describes an extremely rare complication of a Meckel's diverticulum:enterocutaneous fistula of the diverticulum.The presence of Meckel's diverticulum is a well known entity,but subcutaneous perforation of the diverticulum is very rare.Here we report the case of a patient with the complaint of a right lower quadrant abscess,preoperatively diagnosed as enterocutaneous fistula,which was determined intraoperatively to be a fistula resulting from Meckel's diverticulum.

An adult case of celiac sprue triggered after an ileal resection for perforated Meckel's diverticulum

Celiac disease can be triggered by upper abdominal surgery, such as vagotomy, oesophagectomy, pancreatico-duodenectomy, and gastrojejunal anastomosis. Here we report a case of a 24 year-old woman who developed celiac disease after an ileal resection for perforated Meckel's diverticula. This is the first reported celiac case that has been triggered, not by upper abdominal surgery, but after ileal resection for Meckel's diverticula.

Gallstone ileus associated with impaction at Meckel's diverticulum:Case report and literature review

Gallstone ileus due to erosion of one or more gallstones into the gastrointestinal tract is an uncommon cause of small bowel obstruction. The site of impaction is usually distal ileum, and less commonly the jejunum, colon, duodenum, or stomach. We report a rare case of gallstone ileus with impaction at the proximal small bowel and at a Meckel's diverticulum(MD) in a 64-yearold woman managed with laparoscopic converted to open small bowel resections. Patient was discharged home in stable condition and remained asymptomatic at 6-mo follow up. We review the current literature on surgical approaches to MD and gallstone ileus. Diverticulectomy or segmental resection is preferred for complicated MD. For gallstone ileus, simple enterolithotomy or segmental resection are the most the most favored especially in older co-morbid patients due to lower mortality rates and the rarity of recurrent gallstone ileus. In addition, laparoscopy has been increasingly reported as a safe approach to manage gallstone ileus.