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Case Reports
. 2024 May 7;2024(5):rjae293.
doi: 10.1093/jscr/rjae293. eCollection 2024 May.

Fishbone perforating Meckel's diverticulum: an acute appendicitis mimicker

Sujan Kafle  1 , Varsha Chhetri  2 , Binesh Jha  1 , Nabin Bhujel  1 , Rambabu Khadka  1 , Subhash Kumar Das  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Fishbone perforating Meckel's diverticulum: an acute appendicitis mimicker

Sujan Kafle et al. J Surg Case Rep. .

Abstract

Perforation of Meckel's diverticulum by a foreign body is rare, but when it occurs, it can mimic acute appendicitis, leading to diagnostic challenges. We present a case of a 45-year-old male initially diagnosed with acute appendicitis, but intra-operative exploration revealed a perforated Meckel's diverticulum with a fish bone. Meckel's diverticulum perforation remains diagnostically elusive, highlighting the need for intra-operative vigilance in cases of inconsistent findings like the presence of bilious fluid in the abdominal cavity. This case report underscores the importance of considering perforated Meckel's diverticulum in the differential diagnosis of right iliac fossa pain and the necessity of surgical exploration for atypical presentations to ensure timely diagnosis and appropriate management.

Keywords: Meckel’s diverticulum; acute appendicitis; fishbone perforation.

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Conflict of interest statement

None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Intraoperative discovery of Meckel’s diverticulum during running of the bowels.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Bubbles coming out of the Meckel’s diverticulum during compression, suggesting perforation in the diverticulum.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Fish bone revealed from the abdominal cavity.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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