Spontaneous perforation of Meckel's diverticulum without peritonitis in a newborn: report of a case.

A case of a newborn male with a perforation of Meckel's diverticulum is reported. The clinical course consisted of progressive abdominal distention and pneumoperitoneum that formed within 29 h after birth. The perforation of Meckel's diverticulum was not associated with peritonitis because meconium did not contaminate the abdominal cavity. The histology of the diverticulum showed a nearly intact muscular layer but a focal muscular defect. Neither any inflammatory phenomena nor ectopic mucosa was found. A congenital focal muscular defect of the diverticulum and a sudden elevation of intraluminal pressure due to bowel movement after birth may thus be the pathogenesis of a spontaneous perforation. A search of the English literature did not reveal any similar case.