Small Bowel Obstruction Due to a Meckel’s Diverticulum: A Case Report

Introduction: Meckel's diverticulum is due to the partial persistence of the omphalo mesenteric duct. It is a rare condition, affecting about 2% of the population. It is usually asymptomatic, but can also be responsible for complications which constitute as many circumstances of diagnosis.

Observation: We report the observation of an 18-year-old patient, admitted for an occlusive syndrome. The abdominopelvic CT scan showed bowel obstruction with possible volvulus of an ileal loop on flange. An exploratory laparotomy was performed and found an occlusion on an ileal loop volvulus related to a Meckel's diverticulum, connected to the umbilicus by a fibrous flange, with the demonstration of a Meckel's diverticulum with 10 cm in long and 4 cm in diameter, located on the antimesenteric border at 70 cm from Bauhin's valve. The surgical procedure consisted of a resection of the bowel, including the Meckel diverticulum with terminal anastomosis. The postoperative course was simple and the patient was discharged on the sixth postoperative day.

Conclusion: Complications of Meckel's diverticulum are rare. The clinical signs are atypical and may lead to misdiagnosis. When faced with an acute intestinal obstruction, any clinician must think of complications of Meckel's diverticulum.