Small bowel obstruction secondary to Meckel's Diverticulum: a rare complication.

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Authors

Gillett, Ceri
Elgaddal, Sanaa
Patel, Sima

Issue Date

2024-11-01

Type

Article
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Keywords

Case report
Differential diagnosis
Female
Gastrointestinal obstruction
Meckel's diverticulum
Peer-reviewed article
Small bowel obstruction
Small bowel resection
United Kingdom
Urgent laparotomy
Young adult

Journal

Cureus Journal of Medical Science

Volume

16

Issue

11

Research Projects

Organizational Units

Journal Issue

Alternative Title

Abstract

Appendicitis is defined as an inflammation of the appendix and is one of the most common presentations to the general surgical team. The presence of right iliac fossa pain associated with a rise in inflammatory markers raises the suspicion of appendicitis in young, healthy patients. Colitis and bowel obstruction would be considered lower down on the list of differentials. Other common differentials to take into consideration include ovarian pathology and pelvic inflammatory disease in females and diverticulitis in the other population. Investigation for these patients includes ultrasound scans, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging or diagnostic laparoscopy. Imaging modality can help narrow down differentials; however, diagnostic laparoscopy can prove to be fruitful when there is diagnostic uncertainty. Meckel's diverticulum is commonly encountered within general surgery, more so within the paediatric population. Complications include bleeding, inflammation and obstruction, although this is less common in the adult population. We present a rare case of small bowel obstruction with the transition point noted to be at the location of a Meckel's diverticulum masquerading as possible appendicitis.

Citation

Patel S, Gillett C, Elgaddal S. Small Bowel Obstruction Secondary to Meckel's Diverticulum: A Rare Complication. Cureus. 2024 Nov 1;16(11):e72826. doi: 10.7759/cureus.72826. PMID: 39618772; PMCID: PMC11608420.

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