Unusual case of small bowel strangulation due to Meckel's diverticulum.

BACKGROUND

Meckel's diverticulum of the small bowel is the commonest congenital abnormality of the gastrointestinal system. It is a recognised cause of small bowel obstruction; however, the mechanism behind such obstruction is variable.

CASE REPORT: We present case report about an adult male who presented with small bowel obstruction, requiring a laparotomy. He was found to have a strangulated loop of small bowel with an encircling Meckel's diverticulum around the base of the mesentry. This was resected with a small bowel anastomosis.He made a good recovery and was discharged home.

CONCLUSIONS

Our case illustrates a rarely seen complication of obstruction and strangulation caused by Meckel's diverticulum. Yet this is not frequent enough to justify routine excision and the debate as to whether to remove an incidental Meckel's shall continue.