Meckel's Diverticulum Caused Surgical Abdomen in Child

The purpose of study is to assess the clinical characteristics of complicated Meckel's diverticulum in children.

A retrospective review of pediatric cases of complicated Meckel's diverticulae that were surgically treated at Ewha Womans University Hospital from 1985 was performed. The charts were reviewed for the age and sex of the patients, operation finding, treatment, and outcome.

A total 13 patients with a complicated Meckel's diverticulum were identified. There were 8 boys(61.5%) and 5 girls (38.5%) with a mean age of 5.3 years (range, 1month to 14years). Presenting signs and symptoms included digestive hemorrhage (6), intestinal obstruction(4), perforation (1), intussusception due to inverted Meckel's diverticulum (1) and diverticulitis (1). A^99m technetium pertechnetate scintiscan was positive in 3 of 4 patients. Barium contrast studies and colonoscopys were not diagnostic. The mean distance from the ileocecal valve to the diverticulum was 47.0±15.7cm. Average length of the diverticulum was approximately 4.7±3.0cm. Segmental small bowel resection including Meckel's diverticulum (84.6%) or wedge excision(15.4%) was done for treatment. In the bleeding group, ectopic gastric mucosa was present in 5 of 6 patients. Postoperative morbidity and mortality was each 0%.

The results of this study draw attention to the fact that the complicated Meckel's diverticulum must be suspected in children with acute abdomen or gastrointestinal bleeding.