Complications and management of Meckel's diverticulum - A review

Objective: To review the anatomy, symptomatology, diagnosis, complications and management of symptomatic and asymptomatic Meckel's diverticula. Design: Retrospective study. Setting. Teaching hospital, The Netherlands. Subjects: 27 consecutive patients who underwent resection of a Meckel's div erticulum during the 16 year period 1 January 1981-31 August 1997. Main outcome measures: The symptomatology and histopathological findings. Results: 15 patients had symptoms and 12 did not. Haemorrhage and inflammat ion were the most common presenting symptoms. All histopathological signs o f inflammation were found in those with symptomatic diverticula. Resected a symptomatic Meckel's diverticula were abnormal in only two occasions: one c ontained an adenocarcinoma and one a faecolith. Conclusion: All symptomatic Meckel's diverticula should he resected. The su rgical treatment of asymptomatic Meckel's diverticula is still controversia l.