Meckel's diverticulum: Incidence and complications in childhood; [Meckel divertikülü: Siklik ve çocukluk çaǧindaki komplikasyonlar]

Günşar C.; Ceylan H.; Munis N.; Karaca I.; Mir E.

Meckel's diverticulum: Incidence and complications in childhood; [Meckel divertikülü: Siklik ve çocukluk çaǧindaki komplikasyonlar]

Date

2003

Authors

Abstract

Aim: Meckel's diverticulum is the most commonly seen congenital anomaly of the gastrointestinal system. Many complications related with this diverticulum could be seen in childhood. The aim of this study is to investigate the incidence of Meckel's diverticulum in our population and to evaluate the features of the complications originating from it. Method: The data about 1685 patients who underwent laparotomy in İzmir Behcet Uz Children's Hospital between 1990-1996 were investigated. The patients with Meckel's diverticula were classified as symptomatic or asymptomatic. The parameters evaluated were age, sex, clinical presentation, associated anomalies, type of complications related with Meckel's diverticulum, ectopic mucosa, surgical treatment and complications. Results: 25 patients were classified as asymptomatic whereas 35 were classified as symptomatic in a group of 60 patients with Meckel's diverticulitis. The average age was 4.7 years. The incidence was calculated as 1.51 %. The male female ratio (m/f) was 2.5/l and 2.6/l for symptomatic and for asymptomatic patients respectively. Intestinal obstruction (18 cases) was the most common clinical finding presented with vomiting and abdominal pain which were the primary symptoms. Fifteen diverticulum in the asymptomatic group, and all of them in the symptomatic group were excised. The ratio of ectopic mucosa was found as 16 % for the asymptomatic, and 51 % for the symptomatic cases. Symptomatic group had a 16 % complication rate. Conclusion: Meckel's diverticulum is a congenital structure, which is frequently encountered with the clinical presentation of intestinal obstruction in childhood causing life-threatening complications it should be investigated in the laparotomies performed for acute abdomen and where appendices were found innocent.