Strangulated internal hernia by giant Meckel diverticulum presented as acute appendicitis.

INTRODUCTION

Internal hernia due to a Meckel diverticulum is a common presentation of bowel obstruction mostly seen in pediatric population. However, it has been stated that among 5% of the patients had a giant Meckel diverticulum (defined as a Meckel diverticulum with increased dimensions than the ones commonly found), being this condition very unusual.

PRESENTATION OF CASE: We presented a 19 year old male with acute abdominal pain suggestive of appendicitis. During appendectomy we discovered ischemic and necrotic signs in a bowel segment, leading us to perform a laparotomy that revealed a portion of ischemic and necrotic jejunum, and another bowel segment with a strong adherence to the mesentery root that created an internal hernia. The internal hernia was reduced and the injured bowel portions were resected. Necrotic bowel samples were sent to the pathology department who posteriorly reported a giant Meckel diverticulum. The patient had an excellent recovery after procedure.

DISCUSSION: After searching in PubMed for a similar association between Meckel diverticulum and internal hernia, we found few cases that reported a giant Meckel diverticulum and a low occurrence with internal hernias making our case not so common to find.

CONCLUSION

We concluded that a giant Meckel diverticulum in association with mesenteric defects producing internal hernias are not common pathologies to find together in a patient as our research and case suggest.