gastrointestinal disorders
Meckel Diverticulum
Treatment of Meckel Diverticulum
Surgery Patients with intestinal obstruction caused by a Meckel diverticulum require early surgery. Detailed Treatment is discussed elsewhere. A bleeding diverticulum with an indurated area in the adjacent ileum requires resection of the indurated bowel along with the diverticulum. A bleeding diverticulum without ileal induration requires resection of only the diverticulum. Meckel diverticulitis also usually requires resection. Small, asymptomatic diverticula encountered incidentally at laparotomy do not need to be removed. Controversy exists regarding the management of a Meckel diverticulum found incidentally during surgery. Some surgeons prefer to resect the diverticulum in children and young adults even though it is asymptomatic. The diverticulum is also resected in asymptomatic older patients if it feels thickened on palpation; a thickened diverticulum may contain ectopic mucosa and thus has a greater risk of complications. 