Ischaemic giant Meckel’s diverticulum causing small bowel obstruction

TL;DR

A rare case of a large Meckel’s diverticulum causing intestinal blockage is described, highlighting the need for surgical treatment to avoid serious complications.

Contribution

This case report adds to the understanding of giant Meckel’s diverticulum as a rare cause of small bowel obstruction and emphasizes the importance of early surgical intervention.

Findings

Giant Meckel’s diverticulum can cause small bowel obstruction and is difficult to diagnose preoperatively.

Laparoscopic surgery was required to treat the obstruction caused by the giant diverticulum.

Early surgical management is recommended to prevent severe complications like perforation or ischaemia.

Abstract

Meckel’s diverticulum (MD) is the most common congenital abnormality of the small bowel, present in about 2% of the population. While typically asymptomatic, MD can cause complications such as small bowel obstruction (SBO), particularly in adults. Giant MD, defined as a diverticulum larger than 5 cm, is a rare cause of SBO and may lead to torsion, volvulus, or kinking of adjacent bowel. Preoperative diagnosis is often challenging as imaging findings are nonspecific, and MD may be misdiagnosed unless complications like inflammation or torsion occur. Surgical intervention, usually resection, is the treatment of choice for symptomatic MD, particularly in cases causing obstruction or containing ectopic mucosa. Although MD can be asymptomatic, the risk of complications in larger diverticula supports early surgical management in symptomatic cases to prevent severe outcomes like perforation or ischaemia. In this case report, SBO secondary to a giant MD requiring laparoscopic surgery is described.

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