Abstract:

It is the most common congenital anomaly of the gastrointestinal tract which is seen 1–3%. With this study, the cases of Meckel\'s diverticles which had been followed and cured in our clinic in a period of 18 years. In this study, the data of 27 cases with Meckel\'s diverticle related complications which had been followed and cured in Dicle University, Medical Faculty, General Surgery Department from 1987 to 2005 retrospectively investigated. The age, gender, the size and the location of the Meckel\'s diverticle, type of complication, preoperative diagnosis techniques, performed operation and type of incision, postoperative complications, hospitalization periods and the pathology results had been recorded. 12 of the patients were male and 15 of them were women. Mean age was 30,7+/-12.39. There were 14 patients with diverticulitis (50%), 12 patients with intestinal obstruction (46,2%), 1 with lower gastrointestinal bleeding (3,8%) presented as the complications of the Meckel\'s diverticle. Wedge resection-primary suturing in 17 cases, and small intestinal resection in 10 cases had been performed. And in one case resection and stoma had been performed due to general peritonitis. The diverticle lenghth was 2,93+/- 0,71 cm. There was no ectopic tissue in histopathologic examination. General morbidity rate was 18,5%. Meckel\'s diverticle complications\' rates were equal in both genders in this study, although the literature data suggests the reverse of the situation. Furthermore, lower gastrointestinal tract bleeding ratio was also lesser. It may be troublesome because of its very hard suggested preoperative diagnosis and deciding to the operation might be late. For that reason, we should remember that the patients presenting with the ileus, acute abdominal pain and lower gastrointestinal tract bleeding might have Meckel diverticle even if it is a rare condition and this could let us prevent possible complications by the early diagnosis and treatment.

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