Four cases of Intestinal Obstruction due to Meckel's diverticulum

Abstract

Intestinal obstruction caused by Meckel's diverticulum is rare, and is reported to account for 0.3 to 1.5％ of all cases of bowel obstruction. Herein, we report four patients with intestinal obstruction caused by Meckel's diverticulum encountered by us over the past 9 years. All patients were male, ranging in age from a few days old to 76 years. Three patients were suspected as having ileus involving Meckel's diverticulum based on the findings of abdominal enhanced computed tomography. All the patients were treated by surgery. The following causes of intestinal obstruction were diagnosed intraoperatively: internal hernia caused by Meckel's diverticulum (three patients) and adhesive intestinal obstruction caused by Meckel's diverticulitis (one patient). Surgical treatment involved partial resection of the small intestine (two patients), wedge resection (one patient), and simple excision of the diverticulum (one patient). Pathological examination revealed ectopic tissue in one patient. The postoperative course was good in all cases. Enhanced computed tomography is useful for investigation of unexplained intestinal obstruction, and Meckel's diverticulum should be considered as a possible cause.