Meckel's diverticulum in the pediatric surgical population.

Meckel's diverticulum is the most common congenital anomaly of the gastrointestinal tract. We reviewed our experience with 31 cases of Meckel's diverticulum in children from 1966 to 1987. Twenty-four patients presented with clinical manifestations: ten from bleeding, ten from obstruction, and four from diverticulitis. Seven Meckel's were incidental findings at laparotomy. Fifty percent of the patients with bleeding had abdominal pain and 100% had ectopic gastric mucosa in the Meckel's. In six cases the technetium scan identified the Meckel's; there was one false negative scan. Obstruction secondary to a Meckel's diverticulum was due to an internal hernia in five and to intussusception in five. Three patients with intussusception had concomitant bleeding. Diverticulitis was clinically similar to appendicitis. There were no complications and no deaths following surgical resection of Meckel's diverticulum.