Meckel's Diverticulum Perforation by Foreign Body: A Case Report.

Abstract

Meckel's diverticulum is the most common gastrointestinal congenital defect, which, although asymptomatic in adults, may present symptoms in obstruction, inflammation, bleeding and foreign body perforation. There are only 8 reported cases of Meckel's diverticulum perforation by chicken bone. We report a case of a 24-year-old man presenting a 2-day-history of periumbilical pain that shifted to the right lower quadrant in 24 hours. Clinical and laboratory findings led to an appendicitis diagnosis, followed by laparotomy. Normal appendix was found intraoperatively along with an incidental finding of an inflamed and perforated Meckel's diverticulum by chicken bone. Diverticulectomy and enteroanastomosis were performed and the patient had a successful recovery, being discharged after 5 days. Although rare, its clinical presentation might be similar to acute appendicitis, which restate the importance of collecting a detailed clinical history and examining the small bowel in order to investigate a possible Meckel's diverticulum complication in the differential diagnosis.