[Meckel's diverticulitis in the early postoperative course after appendectomy]

Abstract

Meckel's diverticulum is the most frequent anomaly of the small intestine that results from the failure of the vitelline duct to obliterate during the gestation. It occurs on the antimesenteric border of the ileum, usually 60-80 cm proximally to the ileocecal valve. Meckel's diverticulum is true diverticulum because it has all the three layers of the terminal ileum. The heterotopic mucosa is most commonly gastric or pancreatic. Most patients are asymptomatic. Meckel's diverticulum is most frequently diagnosed as an incidental finding during laparotomy. The most frequent complications of Meckel's diverticulum are intestinal obstruction, rectal bleeding, diverticulitis and perforation due to peptic ulcer. Surgical resection is the treatment of choice for symptomatic Meckel's diverticulum.