Meckel's diverticulum is the most common congenital anomaly of the gastrointestinal tract, occurring in 2% of the population and usually found incidentally during an operation or at autopsy. It is estimated that the lifetime risk of developing
symptoms
is 4~6%, with the risk of complication decreasing with age.
The complications of Meckel's diverticulum include bleeding, intestinal obstruction, diverticulitis with/without perforation, umbilical fistula, hernia and tumor. The majority occur in pediatric patients, and of these, about 45% are noted in
infants
before the age of two years. Meckel's diverticulum can cause intestinal obstruction in a number of ways. The principle mechanisms are intussusception or herniation but kinking or volvulus in relation to a persistent remnant of the vitelline duct
also
may be factors.
We experienced a 20day-old male patient who had bilious vomiting and abdominal distension for several hours. Initially our impression was that the infant had a distal ileal obstruction but it proved to be an intestinal obstruction due to a
vascular
band
of Meckel's diverticulum.
We present a case of intestinal obstruction due to mesodiverticular band in a neonate with a brief review of the literature.
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