Acute abdomen in children due to different presentations of complicated Meckel’s diverticulum: a case series

Abstract

Abstract Background Meckel’s diverticulum (MD) is the commonest congenital abnormality of the gastrointestinal tract that occurs in 2% of general population. It remains asymptomatic, but it may lead to life-threatening complications. These complications may be misdiagnosed with other gastrointestinal disorders like acute appendicitis, making its diagnosis challenging among pediatricians and pediatric surgeons. In this study, we reported five cases with different presentations of complicated MD in children. Results Five patients with different presentations of MD were reported during the period from January 2016 to January 2020. Patients’ demographics, clinical presentations, investigations, operative data, and postoperative outcome were recorded and analyzed. Conclusions The present study highlights different presentations of MD. Surgical interference is the main key of treatment of symptomatic MD either by wedge resection of a small base diverticulum or by resection anastomosis of the small intestine in wide base and inflamed diverticulum.

Keywords

• Meckel’s diverticulum
• Children
• Case series
• Acute abdomen