Nuclear Imaging in Meckel's Diverticulum

Meckel's diverticulum: analysis of 27 cases in an adult population

Background

Meckel's diverticulum is a rare congenital pathology among newborns. Nevertheless, it is an uncommon abdominal pathology in the adult population. Therefore, we aim to provide a detailed account of our surgical approach in treating 27 cases of Meckel's diverticulum.

Methods

This study is a cross-sectional analysis that utilized a database with prospectively collected data from 2004 to 2022. All patients under the age of 18 were excluded from the population. We described the population's demographic characteristics, symptoms, anatomopathological study, surgical technique, complications, morbidity, and mortality. A subgroup analysis was performed between the symptomatic and asymptomatic patients.

Results

A total of 27 patients who underwent surgical resection for a posteriorly diagnosed Meckel's diverticulum were included. The male population accounted for 81.4% (n = 22) of the sample size. The symptomatic group consisted of 18 male and four female patients. Abdominal pain was the predominant symptom in 85% of the patients. Out of the 22 symptomatic patients, only 9% had a positive perioperative diagnosis of Meckel's diverticulum. All 27 patients with diverticulum diagnosis received the resection through diverticulectomy (n = 6), small bowel resection with end-to-end anastomosis (n = 6), and small bowel resection with lateral to lateral anastomosis (n = 15). The mean distance between the diverticulum and the ileocecal valve was 63.4 cm. The symptomatic group had an average diverticulum length of 3.54 cm, with an average base width of 2.47 cm. In the other group, the values were 2.75 and 1.61 cm. The average length of hospital stay in the symptomatic group was 7.3 days.

Conclusions

Meckel's diverticulum is a rare pathology in the adult population. Its presentation varies from asymptomatic to symptomatic patients, and surgery is the cornerstone treatment for this pathology.

Incidental Meckel's Diverticulum in Umbilical Hernia

The presence of a Meckel's diverticulum in the hernial sac is called a Littre's hernia. It is a rare complication of Meckel's diverticulum. We present a 56-year-old male patient who complained of swelling in the umbilical region. After the clinical examination and imaging studies, we diagnosed the patient with a partially reducible umbilical hernia. The patient underwent exploration and was found to have omentum, Meckel's diverticulum, and part of the ileum within the sac. The patient underwent segmental resection of the bowel, primary repair of the hernial defect, and onlay meshplasty. Postoperatively, the patient did not develop any complications.

Omphalomesenteric duct resection using an intraumbilical round incision or a transumbilical vertical incision: report of two cases

We report our experience with two patients who underwent omphalomesenteric duct resection: one for a patent omphalomesenteric duct and the other for a Meckel diverticulum connected to the umbilicus by a fibrous cord. We used an intraumbilical round incision and a transumbilical vertical incision, respectively. The first patient was a neonate with a patent omphalomesenteric duct who appeared to have a small stoma after ligature of the umbilical cord. Contrast media, injected through a catheter inserted into the stoma, entered the lumen of the small bowel. The second patient was an infant with a Meckel diverticulum connected to the umbilicus by a fibrous cord. After bloody stool was noted, nuclear imaging using 99^m technetium pertechnetate revealed a small, round area of intense tracer activity in the midabdomen, suggesting the presence of ectopic gastric mucosa. Using either an intraumbilical or a transumbilical incision is safe and provides good cosmesis.

Myocardial Ischemia, a Rare Presentation of Meckel's Diverticulum

CONTEXT

Meckel's diverticulum is a rare congenital anomaly of the gastrointestinal tract. It is typically asymptomatic and found incidentally in the work-up of another medical complaint. However, it has been known to cause complications in a minority of cases.

METHODS

This case involves an elderly male in his early 80's who presented to the emergency department with a 2-day history of emesis and hematochezia, in addition to sudden onset syncope and angina-like symptoms. Serial electrocardiograms demonstrated diffuse ST-segment depressions, consistent with myocardial ischemia. The patient underwent laboratory testing, imaging, endoscopy, and a subsequent exploratory laparotomy.

RESULTS

Laboratory results revealed lactic acidosis, anemia, and leukocytosis. Upper endoscopy resulted in negative findings. Imaging, including CT-scan and Technetium-99 RBC scan, visualized a gastrointestinal bleed. However, the arterial embolization procedure was unable to stop the bleeding diverticulum. Exploratory laparotomy revealed an infarcted Meckel's diverticulum.

CONCLUSIONS

This case demonstrates the importance of clinicians generating a wide differential when evaluating a gastrointestinal bleed, and considering Meckel's diverticulum as a potential cause of a bleed with an unknown source. The primary test to diagnose a Meckel's diverticulum is a Technetium-99 RBC scan. However, visualization via exploratory laparotomy is the best test for definitive diagnosis. The decision to intervene surgically earlier can limit mortality with symptomatic Meckel's diverticula.