Torsion of giant Meckel’s diverticulum causing acute small bowel obstruction

Abstract

Meckel’s diverticulum occurs in 2% of the population and is the most common congenital anomaly of the small intestine. It is the only true diverticulum of the small intestine and occurs due to the persistence of a part of the vitello intestinal duct that does not undergo normal obliteration by the fifth to ninth week of gestation. Though the majority are clinically silent, there is a 4-6% lifetime risk of complications. Axial torsion is the rarest complication associated with Meckel’s diverticulum and its coexistence with intestinal obstruction is largely unheard of with reported cases being few and far between. Here we discuss one such case of axial torsion of a giant Meckel’s diverticulum associated with intestinal obstruction in an adult male.

Meckel’s Diverticulum with a Mesodiverticular Band Causing Massive Bowel Gangrene—A Case Report

“…The incidence of Meckel's diverticulum is around 1-2% and is often detected during autopsies and surgery. Meckel's diverticulum becomes symptomatic in only 4-6% of the population [2,3] The most common presentation varies from lower gastrointestinal bleeding in children and obstruction in adults. Meckel's diverticulum can harbour heterotopic gastric mucosa(50%), pancreatic(5%), and rarely colonic, endometrial, and hepatobiliary tissue which leads to complications like bleeding, intussusception, stula formation, in ammation, obstruction, and tumors (rare) [4].…”