Remnants of vitelline duct: analysis of 66 cases.

In twenty years, 66 infants and children with remnants of vitelline duct requiring surgery have been admitted. The patients were classified into three groups: patient vitelline duct (20 cases); Meckel's diverticulum as the primary surgical diseases (19 patients); and Meckel's diverticulum found incidentally at surgery (27 patients). The male preponderance in the groups of patent vitelline duct and symptomatic Meckel's diverticulum was 9:1. In contrast with other data, Meckel's diverticulum requiring surgery occurred with nearly equal frequency up to fourteen years. The gravest complication in the cases of patent vitelline duct were a T-shaped protrusion of ileum and a small bowel volvulus around the fibrous cord or the patent duct; and in the cases of Meckel's diverticulum causing symptoms, intestinal obstruction, bleeding peptic ulceration or inflammation. Three deaths occurred in newborn age in connection with patent vitelline duct, and one patient died who belonged to the group of asymptomatic Meckel's diverticulum.