Meckel's diverticulum

Meckel's diverticulum

Schematic drawing of a Meckel's diverticulum with a part of the small intestine.
Classification and external resources
Specialty medical genetics
ICD-10 C17.3, Q43.0
ICD-9-CM 152.3, 751.0
OMIM 155140
DiseasesDB 7903
MedlinePlus 000234
eMedicine med/2797 ped/1389 rad/425
Patient UK Meckel's diverticulum
MeSH D008467

A Meckel's diverticulum, a true congenital diverticulum, is a slight bulge in the small intestine present at birth and a vestigial remnant of the omphalomesenteric duct (also called the vitelline duct or yolk stalk). It is the most common malformation of the gastrointestinal tract and is present in approximately 2% of the population,[1] with males more frequently experiencing symptoms.

Meckel's diverticulum was first explained by Fabricius Hildanus in the sixteenth century and later named after Johann Friedrich Meckel, who described the embryological origin of this type of diverticulum in 1809.[2][3]

Presentation

Meckel's diverticulum surgical specimen

Meckel's diverticulum is located in the distal ileum, usually within 60–100 cm (2 feet) of the ileocecal valve. This blind segment or small pouch is about 3–6 cm long and may have a greater lumen diameter than that of the ileum.[4] It runs antimesenterically and has its own blood supply. It is a remnant of the connection from the yolk sac to the small intestine present during embryonic development. It is a true diverticulum, consisting of all 3 layers of the bowel wall which are mucosa, submucosa and muscularis propria.[5]

As the vitelline duct is made up of pluripotent cell lining, Meckel’s diverticulum may harbor abnormal tissues, containing embryonic remnants of other tissue types. Jejunal, duodenal mucosa or Brunner's tissue were each found in 2% of ectopic cases. Heterotopic rests of gastric mucosa and pancreatic tissue are seen in 60% and 6% of cases respectively. Heterotopic means the displacement of an organ from its normal anatomic location.[6] Inflammation of this Meckel's diverticulum may mimic appendicitis. Therefore during appendectomy, ileum should be checked for the presence of Meckel's diverticulum, if it is found to be present it should be removed along with appendix.

A memory aid is the rule of 2s:[7]

However, the exact values for the above criteria range from 0.2–5 (for example, prevalence is probably 0.2–4%).

It can also be present as an indirect hernia, typically on the right side, where it is known as a "Hernia of Littré". A case report of strangulated umbilical hernia with Meckel's diverticulum has also been published in the literature.[8] Furthermore, it can be attached to the umbilical region by the vitelline ligament, with the possibility of vitelline cysts, or even a patent vitelline canal forming a vitelline fistula when the umbilical cord is cut. Torsions of intestine around the intestinal stalk may also occur, leading to obstruction, ischemia, and necrosis.

Symptoms

The majority of people with a Meckel's diverticulum are asymptomatic. An asymptomatic Meckel's diverticulum is called a silent Meckel's diverticulum.[9] If symptoms do occur, they typically appear before the age of two years.

The most common presenting symptom is painless rectal bleeding such as melaena-like black offensive stools, followed by intestinal obstruction, volvulus and intussusception. Occasionally, Meckel's diverticulitis may present with all the features of acute appendicitis. Also, severe pain in the epigastric region is experienced by the patient along with bloating in the epigastric and umbilical regions. At times, the symptoms are so painful that they may cause sleepless nights with acute pain felt in the foregut region, specifically in the epigastric and umbilical regions.

In most cases, bleeding occurs without warning and stops spontaneously. The symptoms can be extremely painful, often mistaken as just stomach pain resulting from not eating or constipation.

Diagnosis

Technetium-99m Pertechnetate Scan with a Meckel's Diverticulum.

A technetium-99m (99mTc) pertechnetate scan, also called Meckel scan, is the investigation of choice to diagnose Meckel's diverticula in children. This scan detects gastric mucosa; since approximately 50% of symptomatic Meckel's diverticula have ectopic gastric or pancreatic cells contained within them,[10] this is displayed as a spot on the scan distant from the stomach itself. In children, this scan is highly accurate and noninvasive, with 95% specificity and 85% sensitivity;[5] however, in adults the test is only 9% specific and 62% sensitive.[11]

Patients with these misplaced gastric cells may experience peptic ulcers as a consequence. Therefore, other tests such as colonoscopy and screenings for bleeding disorders should be performed, and angiography can assist in determining the location and severity of bleeding. Colonoscopy might be helpful to rule out other sources of bleeding but it is not used as an identification tool.

Angiography of a Meckel's diverticulum that presented with bleeding.

Angiography might identify brisk bleeding in patients with Meckel's diverticulum.[5]

Ultrasonography could demonstrate omphaloenteric duct remnants or cysts.[12] Computed tomography (CT scan) might be a useful tool to demonstrate a blind ended and inflamed structure in the mid-abdominal cavity, which is not an appendix.[5]

In asymptomatic patients, Meckel's diverticulum is often diagnosed as an incidental finding during laparoscopy or laparotomy.

Treatment

Treatment is surgical, potentially with a laparoscopic resection.[5] In patients with bleeding, strangulation of bowel, bowel perforation or bowel obstruction, treatment involves surgical resection of both the Meckel's diverticulum itself along with the adjacent bowel segment, and this procedure is called a "small bowel resection".[5] In patients without any of the aforementioned complications, treatment involves surgical resection of the Meckel's diverticulum only, and this procedure is called a simple diverticulectomy.[5]

With regards to asymptomatic Meckel's diverticulum, some recommend that a search for Meckel's diverticulum should be conducted in every case of appendectomy/laparotomy done for acute abdomen, and if found, Meckel's diverticulectomy or resection should be performed to avoid secondary complications arising from it.[13]

Epidemiology

Meckel's diverticulum occurs in about 2% of the population.[6] Prevalence in males is 3–5 times higher than in females.[4] Only 2% of cases are symptomatic, which usually presents among children at the age of 2.[14]

Most cases of Meckel's diverticulum are diagnosed when complications manifest or incidentally in unrelated conditions such as laparotomy, laparoscopy or contrast study of the small intestine. Classic presentation in adults includes intestinal obstruction and inflammation of the diverticulum (diverticulitis). Painless rectal bleeding most commonly occurs in toddler.

Inflammation in the ileal diverticulum has symptoms that mimic appendicitis, therefore its diagnosis is of clinical importance. Detailed knowledge of the pathophysiological properties is essential in dealing with the life-threatening complications of Meckel's diverticulum.[5]

Developmental background

The omphalomesenteric duct (omphaloenteric duct, vitelline duct or yolk stalk) normally connects the embryonic midgut to the yolk sac ventrally, providing nutrients to the midgut during embryonic development. The vitelline duct narrows progressively and disappears between the 5th and 8th weeks gestation.

In Meckel's diverticulum, the proximal part of vitelline duct fails to regress and involute, which remains as a remnant of variable length and location.[15] The solitary diverticulum lies on the antimesenteric border of the ileum (opposite to the mesenteric attachment) and extends into the umbilical cord of the embryo.[14] The left and right vitelline arteries originate from the primitive dorsal aorta, and travel with the omphaloenteric duct. The right becomes the superior mesenteric artery that supplies a terminal branch to the diverticulum, while the left involutes.[5] Having its own blood supply, Meckel's diverticulum is susceptible to obstruction or infection.

Complications

The lifetime risk for a person with Meckel's diverticulum to develop certain complications is about 4–6%. Gastrointestinal bleeding, peritonitis or intestinal obstruction may occur in 15–30% of symptomatic patients (Table 1). Only 6.4% of all complications requires surgical treatment; and untreated Meckel's diverticulum has a mortality rate of 2.5–15%.[14]

Table 1 – Complications of Meckel's Diverticulum:[16]

Complications Percentage of symptomatic Meckel’s Diverticulum (%)
Haemorrhage 20–30
Intestinal obstruction 20–25
Diverticulitis 10–20
Umbilical anomalies ≤10
Neoplasm 0.5-2

Pathophysiology of complications

Hemorrhage

Bleeding of the diverticulum is most common in young children, especially in males who are less than 2 years of age.[17] Symptoms may include bright red blood in stools (hematochezia), weakness, abdominal tenderness or pain, and even anaemia in some cases.[18]

Hemorrhage may be caused by:

  1. Where diverticulum contains embryonic remnants of mucosa of other tissue types.
  2. Secretion of gastric acid or alkaline pancreatic juice from the ectopic mucosa leads to ulceration in the adjacent ileal mucosa i.e. peptic or pancreatic ulcer.[19]
  3. Pain, bleeding or perforation of the bowel at the diverticulum may result.
  4. Mechanical stimulation may also cause erosion and ulceration.

The appearance of stools may indicate the nature of the haemorrhage:

Diverticulitis

Inflammation of the diverticulum can mimic symptoms of appendicitis, i.e., periumbilical tenderness and intermittent crampy abdominal pain. Perforation of the inflamed diverticulum can result in peritonitis. Diverticulitis can also cause adhesions, leading to intestinal obstruction.[21]

Diverticulitis may result from:

Intestinal obstruction

Symptoms: Vomiting, abdominal pain and severe or complete constipation.[23]

  1. Extrude into the terminal ileum, leading to obstruction
  2. Induce local inflammation and intussusception.[5]
  1. An active peristaltic mechanism of the diverticulum that attempts to remove irritating factors
  2. A passive process such as the transit of food[18]

Umbilical anomalies

Anomalies between the diverticulum and umbilicus may include the presence of fibrous cord, cyst, fistula or sinus, leading to:[21]

Neoplasm

Tumors in Meckel's diverticulum may cause bleeding, acute abdominal pain, gastrointestinal obstruction, perforation or intussusception.[21]

  1. Leiomyoma
  2. Lipoma
  3. Vascular and neuromuscular hamartoma
  1. Carcinoids: most common, 44%
  2. Mesenchymal tumors: Leiomyosarcoma, peripheral nerve sheath and gastrointestinal stromal tumors, 35%
  3. Adenocarcinoma, 16%
  4. Desmoplastic small round cell tumor

Other complications

References

  1. ↑ Elsayes KM, Menias CO, Harvin HJ, Francis IR (July 2007). "Imaging manifestations of Meckel's diverticulum". AJR Am J Roentgenol 189 (1): 81–8. doi:10.2214/AJR.06.1257. PMID 17579156.
  2. ↑ Meckel's diverticulum at Who Named It?
  3. ↑ J. F. Meckel. Über die Divertikel am Darmkanal. Archiv für die Physiologie, Halle, 1809, 9: 421–453.
  4. 1 2 Moore, K. L., Persaud, T. V. N., & Torchia, M. G. (2013). The developing human: Clinically oriented embryology (9th ed.). Philadelphia: Elsevier/Saunders.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Mattei, P. (2011). Fundamentals of Pediatric Surgery. New York, NY: Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.
  6. 1 2 Robbins, S. L., Kumar, V., & Cotran, R. S. (2010). Robbins and Cotran pathologic basis of disease (8th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Saunders/Elsevier
  7. ↑ F. Charles Brunicardi, Dana K. Anderson, Timothy R. Billiar, et al. Small Intestine. In: Ali Tavakkoli, Stanley W. Ashley, Michael J. Zinner: Schwartz's Principles of Surgery. 10 ed. United states: McGraw-Hill;2015
  8. ↑ Tiu A, Lee D (2006). "An unusual manifestation of Meckel's diverticulum: strangulated paraumbilical hernia". N. Z. Med. J. 119 (1236): U2034. PMID 16807577.
  9. ↑ Thurley PD, Halliday KE, Somers JM, Al-Daraji WI, Ilyas M, Broderick NJ (February 2009). "Radiological features of Meckel's diverticulum and its complications". Clin Radiol 64 (2): 109–18. doi:10.1016/j.crad.2008.07.012. PMID 19103339.
  10. ↑ Martin JP, Connor PD, Charles K (February 2000). "Meckel's diverticulum". Am Fam Physician 61 (4): 1037–42, 1044. PMID 10706156.
  11. ↑ Uppal K, Tubbs RS, Matusz P, Shaffer K, Loukas M (May 2011). "Meckel's diverticulum: a review". Clin Anat 24 (4): 416–422. doi:10.1002/ca.21094. PMID 21322060.
  12. ↑ Samain, J; Maeyaert, S; Geusens, E; Mussen, E (Mar–Apr 2012). "Sonographic findings of Meckel's diverticulitis.". JBR-BTR : organe de la Societe royale belge de radiologie (SRBR) = orgaan van de Koninklijke Belgische Vereniging voor Radiologie (KBVR) 95 (2): 103. PMID 22764670.
  13. ↑ Tauro LF, George C, Rao BS, Martis JJ, Menezes LT, Shenoy HD (2010). "Asymptomatic Meckel's diverticulum in adults: is diverticulectomy indicated?". Saudi J Gastroenterol 16 (3): 198–202. doi:10.4103/1319-3767.65199. PMC 3003224. PMID 20616416.
  14. 1 2 3 Schoenwolf, G. C., & Larsen, W. J. (2009). Larsen's human embryology (4th ed.). Philadelphia: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier.
  15. 1 2 Drake, R. L., Vogl, W., Mitchell, A. W. M., Gray, H., & Gray, H. (2010). Gray's anatomy for students (2nd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier.
  16. 1 2 3 Johnston A. O., Moore T. (1976). "Complications of Meckel's diverticulum". British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. 63 (6): 453–454. doi:10.1002/bjs.1800630612.
  17. ↑ Sagar J., Kumar V., Shah D. K. (2006). "Meckel's diverticulum: A systematic review". Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine 99 (10): 501–505. doi:10.1258/jrsm.99.10.501. PMC 1592061. PMID 17021300.
  18. 1 2 Karaman A., Karaman I., Cavusoaglu Y. H., Erdoagan D., Aslan M. K. (2010). "Management of asymptomatic or incidental meckels diverticulum". Indian Pediatrics 47 (12): 1055–1057. doi:10.1007/s13312-010-0176-1. PMID 19671945.
  19. ↑ Higaki S., Saito Y., Akazawa A., Okamoto T., Hirano A., Takeo Y., Okita K. (2001). "Bleeding Meckel's diverticulum in an adult". Hepato-Gastroenterology 48 (42): 1628–1630. PMID 11813588.
  20. ↑ Al-Onaizi I., Al-Awadi F., Al-Dawood A. L. (2002). "Iron deficiency anaemia: An unusual complication of Meckel's diverticulum". Medical Principles and Practice : International Journal of the Kuwait University, Health Science Centre 11 (4): 214–217. doi:10.1159/000065810.
  21. 1 2 3 Sharma R., Jain V. (2008). "Emergency surgery for Meckel's diverticulum". World J Emerg Surg 3 (27): 1–8. doi:10.1186/1749-7922-3-27.
  22. ↑ Tan, Y. M., & Zheng, Z. X. (2005). Recurrent torsion of a giant Meckel's diverticulum. Digestive Diseases and Sciences, 50(7), 1285–1287.
  23. ↑ Pariza, G., Mavrodin, C. I., & Ciurea, M. (2009). Complicated meckel's diverticulum in adult pathology. [Diverticulul Meckel complicat in patologia adultului] Chirurgia (Bucharest, Romania : 1990), 104(6), 745–748.
  24. ↑ Martin, E. (2010). Concise colour medical dictionary (5th ed.) Oxford University Press.

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