Clinical profile and surgical outcome of Meckel's diverticulum.

The aim of the study was to estimate the incidence and analyse the clinical profile and surgical outcome of the Meckel's diverticulum. This prospective study included 632 patients who were operated upon for acute abdomen during August 1999 to July 2004 in a single surgical unit. Pre-operative abdominal ultrasonography and plain x-ray abdomen erect were done depending on the necessity. These patients were subjected to laparotomy/appendicectomy depending on the case. A search for Meckel's diverticulum was done and if found, surgical resection and analysis by histopathological confirmation of the Meckel's diverticulum was performed. This study detected 9 patients (1.42%) with Meckel's diverticulum during the operation. In none of these cases pre-operative diagnosis of Meckel's diverticulitis was made. Out of 9 patients, 6 (66.6%) were males, 3 (33.4%) females. Four cases (44.4%) were symptomatic due to Meckel's diverticulum and 5 (55.6%) were asymptomatic. One patient presented with haematochezia, one with intestinal obstruction due to gangrene of the Meckel's diverticulum and one case of duplication of (double) Meckel's diverticulum. Histopathological examination of these specimens confirmed 2 cases with inflammation, one with gangrene and one ulcerated gastric mucosa in the Meckel's diverticulum. In 2 cases (22.2%) there was heterotopic epithelium (gastric-1, colonic-1). It is recommended that a search for Meckel's diverticulum in every case of appendicectomy, laparotomies for acute abdomen should be conducted and if found, Meckel's diverticulectomy/resection should be performed to avoid secondary complications arising from it.