Incidence, complications, and management of Meckel's diverticulum.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

To elucidate the incidence of Meckel's diverticulum; to determine the correlation between the histologic type of the diverticulum's mucosa and its clinical presentation; and to review our experience with Meckel's diverticulum.

DESIGN:

Case-control study.

SETTING:

University hospital in Ioannina, Greece.

PATIENTS:

A total of 2074 patients undergoing an appendectomy were examined intraoperatively for Meckel's diverticulum (subgroup A1). In addition, Meckel's diverticulum was found incidentally in 15 patients who were undergoing intra-abdominal surgery (subgroup A2). An operation for a complicated Meckel diverticulum was performed in an additional 15 patients (group B).

RESULTS:

Thirty-three (1.59%) Meckel diverticulae were found incidentally among 2074 patients in subgroup A1. A positive correlation between Meckel's diverticulum and male sex was found (P < .004), but no difference was found in sex distribution between patients in group B and subgroup A1 (P < .6744). The histologic type of the mucosa (gastric) had significant positive correlation with the clinical presentation of the diverticulum (complicated) (P < .001).

CONCLUSION:

Resection of the unexpected Meckel diverticulum can be performed safely with a low complication rate, regardless of the patient's age.

• Authors: M I Matsagas, M Fatouros, B Koulouras, A D Giannoukas
• Journal: Archives of surgery (Chicago, Ill. : 1960) (Arch Surg) Vol. 130 Issue 2 Pg. 143-6 (Feb 1995) ISSN: 0004-0010 [Print] United States
• PMID: 7848082 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Abdomen (surgery)
• Adolescent
• Adult
• Age Factors
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Appendectomy
• Case-Control Studies
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Female
• Gastric Mucosa (pathology)
• Greece (epidemiology)
• Humans
• Incidence
• Infant
• Intestinal Diseases (etiology)
• Intestinal Mucosa (pathology)
• Male
• Meckel Diverticulum (complications, epidemiology, pathology, surgery)
• Middle Aged
• Retrospective Studies
• Sex Factors