MECKELS-DIVERTICULUM IN THE EASTERN PROVINCE - A CLINICAL-STUDY OF 39PATIENTS AND A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Background: Meckel's diverticulum has protean clinical manifestations and should be borne in mind by clinicians dealing with the acute abdom en. Setting: Three general hospitals in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Method: Review of the literature and a retrospective clinical study covering 1982 to 1991. Results: A total of 39 cases were retriev ed, 74% were males, 95% were emergency admissions consisting of acute abdomen and massive bleeding per rectum, 95% had laparotomies. There w as one postoperative death. Conclusions: Attention is drawn to this en igmatic condition, and clinical guidelines for its management were rei terated.