Intestinal obstruction secondary to perforation of Meckel’s diverticulum caused by dentures: a case report and review of literature

TL;DR

A rare case of intestinal obstruction caused by dentures perforating Meckel’s diverticulum is reported, highlighting the importance of considering this condition in patients with ingested foreign bodies.

Contribution

This case report adds to the limited literature on foreign body-induced perforation of Meckel’s diverticulum.

Findings

A 52-year-old woman developed intestinal obstruction due to dentures perforating her Meckel’s diverticulum.

CT imaging showed gas–liquid levels and high-density objects, leading to surgical intervention and confirmation of the foreign body.

Resection of the affected ileal diverticula and partial ileum resolved the condition.

Abstract

Meckel’s diverticulum (MD) is the most common congenital abnormality of the gastrointestinal tract. However, MD is rare in clinical practice, and perforation of a MD by a foreign body is even rarer. Preoperative diagnosis is difficult because there is often insufficient information; therefore it is usually diagnosed intraoperatively. Although rare, it should be considered as a differential diagnosis in patients who have ingested foreign bodies.

The following is the case of a 52-year-old female patient who was admitted because of generalized abdominal pain for 5 days, related to nausea and vomiting. She also stopped passing gas. Inflammatory indicators were elevated, and computed tomography (CT) revealed gas–liquid levels in the small intestine and high-density objects in the ileum. Based on the patient’s condition, laparotomy was performed instead because the laparoscopic procedure was difficult to perform. Intraoperatively, a foreign body perforated the diverticulum of the terminal ileum, resulting in the development of an abdominal abscess. Finally, we performed resection of the ileal diverticula and partial resection of the ileum. After the surgery, it was confirmed that the foreign bodies were two dentures accidentally eaten by the patient.

A thorough understanding of the clinical presentation, imaging features, and treatment of MD and its complications will assist clinicians in making prompt and accurate diagnoses and providing symptomatic treatment.

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