What Is Meckel's Diverticulum?
Meckel's diverticulum is an outpouching or bulge in the lower part of the small intestine. The bulge is congenital (present at birth) and is a left...
Who Gets Meckel's Diverticulum?
Though 2% to 3% of the population gets Meckel's diverticulum, it causes symptoms in only a small number of those people. People can live their whol...
What Causes Meckel's Diverticulum?
Meckel's diverticulum occurs in a fetus early in the pregnancy. Normally, the vitelline duct, which connects the growing fetus with the yolk sac, i...
What Are The Symptoms of Meckel's Diverticulum?
Symptoms of Meckel's diverticulum usually occur during the first year of a child's life, but can occur into adulthood.Symptoms include: 1. Gastroin...
What is a meckel's diverticulum?
Meckel's diverticulum is a congenital (present at birth) outpouching or bulge in the lower part of the small intestine. The bulge is a leftover of the umbilical cord. If it causes symptoms, Meckel's diverticulum can be repaired with surgery.
What are the symptoms of a bowel infection?
Tenderness near the navel (belly button). Obstruction of the bowels, a blockage that keeps the contents of the intestines from passing. This can cause pain, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and vomiting.
Can Meckel's diverticulum be diagnosed?
Meckel's diverticulum can be difficult to diagnose. Many of the symptoms, such as vomiting, abdominal pain, and tenderness, can occur in several different conditions. If your child's healthcare provider feels that the combination of symptoms suggests Meckel's diverticulum, he or she will order certain tests.
What is the best way to diagnose Meckel's diverticulum?
A video capsule endoscopy is likely to be used to diagnose Meckel’s diverticulum. You’ll be asked to swallow a small, pill-sized camera, which then passes through your digestive tract. This helps your doctor detect any source of bleeding in the small intestine. Computed Tomography (CT) scan.
What are the complications of Meckel's diverticulum?
Major complications in both children and adults include the following: 1 Hemorrhage is the most common complication resulting from the formation of ulcers in the small intestine. 2 Obstruction in the small intestine may occur due to scars formed by the diverticulum. If you have Meckel’s diverticulum, food and acids may collect and get stuck due to the blockage of your small intestine. This can obstruct your digestive tract.
When does Meckel's diverticulum develop?
. It usually develops between the fifth and seventh week of fetal development and can only be detected at birth. If you are born with an intestinal bulge, you may have Meckel’s diverticulum.
What is the procedure called when you cut your abdomen?
This allows your doctor to look inside your intestine and check for Meckel’s diverticulum. Rectosigmoidoscopy. This procedure is also called flexible sigmoidoscopy.
What is a meckel's diverticulum?
What is Meckel’s diverticulum? A diverticulum is an abnormal sac or pouch that develops at a weak point in the intestines. Various types of diverticula can develop as you age. When you’re born with a diverticulum in your intestines, it’s referred to as Meckel’s diverticulum. Meckel’s diverticulum usually develops between ...
Can Meckel's diverticulum cause bleeding?
Some people may have active bleeding in their intestines as a result of Meckel’s diverticulum. This may make it difficult to view the diverticulum through the technetium scan. If this occurs, your doctor may need to order different tests to confirm diagnosis.
What is barium used for?
Barium is a metallic, chemical, chalky, liquid used to coat the inside of organs so that they will show up on an X-ray.). An X-ray of the abdomen shows narrowed areas, blockages, and other problems. Meckel's scan. A substance called technetium is injected into your child's bloodstream though an intravenous (IV) line.
What is a pouch made of?
It is not made of the same type of tissue as the small intestine, but instead, is made of the type of tissue found in the stomach or the pancreas. The tissue in Meckel's diverticulum can produce acid, just as the tissue of the stomach does.
Can Meckel's diverticulum be removed?
The opinion of the health care providers involved in the child's care. Doctors will usually recommend that a Meckel's diverticulum that is causing symptoms (such as bleeding) be surgically removed. Under general anesthesia, an incision will be made in the abdomen and the abnormal tissue will be removed.
Definition
The most common congenital malformation of the small bowel, Meckel's diverticulum (MD) is present in 1% to 3% of the population. [1]#N#Turgeon DK, Barnett JL. Meckel's diverticulum. Am J Gastroenterol. 1990;85:777-781. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2196781?tool=bestpractice.com#N#[2]#N#Tavakkoli A, Ashley SW, Zinner MJ. Small intestine.
Contributors
AT consults for Medtronic, sees patients on behalf of Partners Healthcare and is the recipient of grants from NIH, Siemens and Sanofi, none of which conflicts with this topic.