Meckel's diverticulum: its clinical significance; a report of 54 cases.

Of 54 cases of Meckel's diverticulum observed at one hospital in a 20-year period, 27 were noted incidentally and 27 caused symptoms. In the latter group, the patients were preponderantly males. The most common symptoms, in order of frequency, were hemorrhage from the bowel, intestinal obstruction, acute diverticulitis, and intussusception. All the complications except intestinal obstruction occurred in infancy and childhood more often than in later life. Intestinal obstruction was limited to adults. There was strong coincidence of complications and ectopic tissue. Surgical excision was done in all cases of diverticulum causing symptoms, and all patients recovered.