Meckel’s diverticulectomy

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Meckel's diverticulectomy - series

Overview

Recovery

Risks

Meckel’s diverticulectomy

Definition:

Meckel's diverticulectomy is the surgical removal of an abnormal pouch (Meckel's diverticulum) in the wall of the small intestine that can become inflamed or infected.

Description:

While the patient is under general anesthesia (unconscious and pain-free), the surgeon makes an incision in the right side of the lower abdomen. The small intestine is located and the diverticulum is removed. The intestine is repaired and the incision is closed.

Sometimes a small segment of the intestine may need to be removed along with the diverticulum. In this case the adjoining ends of the intestine sewn back together.

Indications:

Inflammation or infection of Meckel's diverticulum (diverticulitis) can be mistaken for appendicitis. The most common symptom of Meckel's diverticulitis is painless bleeding from the rectum. The stools may contain fresh blood or may look black and tarry.

Review Date: 10/22/2004
Reviewed By: Brendan T. Campbell, MD, MPH, Department of Surgery, Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock, AR. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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