Abstract
An 85-year-old man was brought to hospital on an emergency basis with chief complaints of lower abdominal pain and fever. Although inflammatory findings were mild, he had symptoms of intestinal obstruction and persistent abdominal pain. Contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed an increased concentration in the fatty tissue surrounding the intrapelvic small intestine. Since strangulated ileus could not be ruled out, emergency surgery was performed. On laparoscopic examination, a Meckel's diverticulum showing gangrenous changes was seen approximately 40 cm proximal to the terminal ileum. No perforation was present, and surgery was completed by resecting the small intestine. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful. Meckel's deiverticulum is considered relatively rare in the elderly population, and its preoperative diagnosis is often difficult. A case of gangrenous Meckel's diverticulum in an elderly patient that was diagnosed and treated laparoscopically is described, along with a review of the relevant literature.
