Persistence of a vitelline artery on a Meckel's diverticulum as a cause of bowel infarction

Clin J Gastroenterol. 2020 Jun;13(3):386-392. doi: 10.1007/s12328-019-01062-x. Epub 2019 Nov 8.

Abstract

Meckel's diverticulum is a congenital anomaly, resulting from incomplete obliteration of the most proximal portion of the omphalomesenteric duct. It generally remains silent, but life-threatening complications may arise in 4-6% of the patients. We present a case of a 16-year-old male, who arrived at the emergency room with crampy abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting, suggestive of acute appendicitis. Surgical exploration revealed 150 cm of infarcted small bowel, secondary to a mesodiverticular band of a Meckel's diverticulum at the site of obstruction. The ischemic small bowel with Meckel's diverticulum was resected, and an ileo-ileal anastomosis was carried out. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on the fifth postoperative day. He was seen 12 months after his initial surgery, with a favorable outcome.

Keywords: Bowel ischemia; Bowel obstruction; Meckel’s diverticulum; Mesodiverticular band.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Humans
  • Infarction / diagnostic imaging
  • Infarction / etiology*
  • Infarction / surgery
  • Intestine, Small / blood supply*
  • Intestine, Small / diagnostic imaging
  • Intestine, Small / surgery
  • Male
  • Meckel Diverticulum / complications*
  • Radiography, Abdominal