Invaginated Meckel’s Diverticulum as an Infrequent Cause of Intestinal Occlusion in the Adult

Abstract

Introduction: Meckel's diverticulum is usually asymptomatic in the adult population, manifesting clinically only when it presents some type of complication.

Objective: To present a case of intestinal occlusion secondary to an invaginated Meckel's diverticulum, an uncommon condition in the adult population.

Case presentation: The case is presented of a 34-year-old male who, after presenting to the emergency department for colicky abdominal pain and thermometric fever, was diagnosed, by abdominal computed tomography, with an ileal-ileal invagination, with distension of the loops and inflammatory changes. Emergency surgery was performed, showing evidence of invaginated Meckel's diverticulum with retrograde dilatation of the loops, which was resected. Images of the computed tomography scan, as well as the intraoperative findings and the resection specimen are provided.

Conclusions: Meckel's diverticulum is usually diagnosed by chance because it is asymptomatic in most of the adult population. However, it can debut as an occlusive condition resulting from its invagination; therefore, its early diagnosis is necessary to avoid therapeutic delays and thus reduce the associated morbidity and mortality.