MECKEL'S DIVERTICULUM - REVISITED.

Twenty five cases of Meckel's diverticulum were studied between 1985-1995. Eight of these were symptomatic and in the remaining 17 it was an incidental finding. The symptomatic patients presented with intestinal obstruction (5 cases), perforated peritonitis (2 cases) and intussusception (1 case). All cases of acute appendicitis were also subjected to a search for Meckel's diverticulum. Of the 25 Meckel's diverticuli encountered, 22 were resected and in 3 patients it was left in situ. Both the patients with perforated Meckel's diverticulum showed ectopic gastric mucosa. Complications occurred only after surgery for symptomatic Meckel's diverticulum. All patients undergoing incidental diverticulectomy had a smooth and uncomplicated recovery.