2. Background
• Most prevalent congenital anomaly of the GI tract
• True diverticula - contains all layers found in normal small intestine
• Usually located in the ileum, within 100 cm of the ileocecal valve
• ~60% contain heterotopic mucosa (gastric mucosa > pancreatic acini >
Brunner’s glands, pancreatic islets, colonic mucosa, etc)
• Neoplasms, MC carcinoid tumors, are found in ~0.5-3% of symptomatic
Meckel’s diverticula
• “Rule of 2’s” – useful (but crude) mnemonic
• 2% prevalence
• 2:1 male dominance
• 2 ft proximal to Ileocecal valve (in adults)
• Half of symptomatic pts are < 2 y/o
3. Pathophysiology
• In 8th wk of gestation, omphalomesenteric duct (aka vitelline duct) normally
obliterates, just before midgut returns to abdomen
• Failure or incomplete vitelline duct obliteration results in a spectrum of
abnormalities, including omphalomesenteric fistulas and enterocysts (image on
next slide)
• However, the MC abnormality associated with this is Meckel’s diverticulum
• Remnant of the Left Vitelline Artery may persist, too, forming a
mesodiverticular band tethering the Meckel’s diverticulum to the mesentery of
the ileum (image on next slide)
4. Pathophysiology cont’d
Left: Embryology
diagram of vitelline
duct incorporation
into umbilical cord
Right: Abnormalities
associated with failure
of vitelline duct
obliteration
Source:
GI Embryology Flash Cards
5. Pathophysiology cont’d
A. Meckel’s diverticulum
w/mesodiverticular band
B. Entrapment of intestine
by mesodiverticular band
Figure from Schwartz’s
Principles of Surgery, 10e
6. Pathophysiology cont’d
• May cause bleeding (classically painless rectal bleeding) - usually the result of ileal
mucosal ulceration that occurs adjacent to the acid-producing heterotopic gastric
mucosa within the diverticulum
• May cause intestinal obstruction – a/w the following mechanisms:
• Volvulus around fibrous band attaching diverticulum to umbilicus
• Entrapment by a mesodiverticular band
• Intussusception with the Meckel’s diverticulum serving as the lead point
• Stricture formation due to chronic diverticulitis
• May also be contained within inguinal or femoral hernia sacs -- this is known as
Littre’s Hernia
• If it becomes incarcerated, it can also cause intestinal obstruction
7. Clinical Manifestations
• Asymptomatic unless associated complications arise
• Lifetime incidence of complications in pts with Meckel’s diverticula has been
estimated to be btwn 4-6%
• It was previously thought that the risk of developing a complication decreases
with age – however, more recent data suggests that this is untrue and that the
risk of developing Meckel’s related complications does NOT change with
age! (Cullen et al)
• MC presentations a/w symptomatic Meckel’s diverticula are:
• Bleeding MC presentation in pts < 18 y/o (> 50% of cases)
• Intestinal Obstruction MC presentation in adults
• Diverticulitis Presents w/a clinical picture that mimics acute appendicitis
9. Diagnosis
• Most are found incidentally (eg radiographic imaging, endoscopy, or during surgery)
• For pts presenting with symptoms suggestive of Meckel’s diverticulum,
confirmatory imaging may be sought (but there are some challenges to keep in mind)
• CT scans – sensitivity too low
• Enteroclysis – 75% accuracy but usu N/A during acute presentations
• Technetium-99m-pertechnetate scan (aka Meckel scan) – can be very helpful but this
test is only (+) when ectopic gastric mucosa (which can take up the tracer) is present.
Also, while the accuracy of this scan is 90% in pediatric pts, it is < 50% in adults
(images on next slide)
• Angiography – can localize site of bleed in pts presenting w/acute hemorrhage
10. Meckel’s Diverticulum Dx: 99mTc-Pertechnetate Scintigraphy
Meckel’s Diverticulum with ectopic gastric
tissue. Image shows an abnormal focus of
radiotracer uptake in the RLQ (arrow).
Figure from Schwartz’s Principles of
Surgery, 10e
11. Tx of Symptomatic Meckel’s Diverticula
• Surgical resection: Diverticulectomy + removal of associated
bands connecting diverticulum to abdominal wall or intestinal
mesentery
• Additional surgical considerations:
• If bleeding was the pt’s presentation, segmental resection of ileum that
includes both the diverticulum and the adjacent ileal ulcer should be
performed
• Segmental ileal resection may also be needed if there is a tumor
present, or if the base of the diverticulum is inflamed or perforated
13. Tx of Asymptomatic Meckel’s Diverticula
• Unfortunately, mgmt. of asymptomatic (incidentally found) Meckel’s
diverticula is less straightforward – more controversy!
• Until recently, recommendation was against PPx removal, given the
relatively low lifetime incidence of complications
• However, more recently, there has been greater endorsement of PPx
diverticulectomy. Proponents argue that there is minimal morbidity a/w
Meckel’s diverticulectomy and that the lifetime incidence of complications
reported in the literature may be erroneously low.
• Still, others have advocated in favor of a more selective approach that
recommends removal only in cases where the diverticula is attached by
bands and or has a narrow base
• Minimal controlled data supporting/refuting any of these recommendations
14. References
• Tavakkoli A, Ashley SW, Zinner MJ. Small Intestine. In: Brunicardi F, Andersen
DK, Billiar TR, Dunn DL, Hunter JG, Matthews JB, Pollock RE. eds. Schwartz's
Principles of Surgery, 10e New York, NY: McGraw-Hill;
2015. http://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com.ezproxy.med.ucf.edu/content.aspx?book
id=980§ionid=59610870. Accessed March 03, 2017.
• Cullen JJ, Kelly KA, Moir CR, et al. Surgical management of Meckel's diverticulum.
An epidemiologic, population-based study. Ann Surg 1994;220:564-9.
• Castleden, W.M. (1970) Meckel's diverticulum in umblical hernia. Br. J. Surg.,
57:932.
Editor's Notes
Meckel’s diverticulum is the most prevalent congenital anomaly of the GI tract, affecting approximately 2% of the general population. Meckel’s diverticula are designated true diverticula because their walls contain all of the layers found in normal small intestine. Their location varies among individual patients, but they are usually found in the ileum within 100 cm of the ileocecal valve (Fig. 28-24). Approximately 60% of Meckel’s diverticula contain heterotopic mucosa, of which over 60% consist of gastric mucosa. Pancreatic acini are the next most common; others include Brunner’s glands, pancreatic islets, colonic mucosa, endometriosis, and hepatobiliary tissues. A useful, although crude, mnemonic describing Meckel’s diverticula is the “rule of two’s”: 2% prevalence, 2:1 male predominance, location 2 feet proximal to the ileocecal valve in adults, and half of those who are symptomatic are under 2 years of age.
Again – this is just a “crude mnemonic” – and is therefore best taken as a general guideline rather than accurate or evidence based fact. For example, the Meckel's diverticulum has actually been found to occur equally in both sexes,6,15–18 but it causes complications more frequently in male (Cullen)
During the eighth week of gestation, the omphalomesenteric (vitelline) duct normally undergoes obliteration. Failure or incomplete vitelline duct obliteration results in a spectrum of abnormalities, the most common of which is Meckel’s diverticulum. Other abnormalities include omphalomesenteric fistula, enterocyst, and a fibrous band connecting the intestine to the umbilicus. A remnant of the left vitelline artery can persist to form a mesodiverticular band tethering a Meckel’s diverticulum to the ileal mesentery.
Bleeding associated with Meckel’s diverticulum is usually the result of ileal mucosal ulceration that occurs adjacent to acid-producing, heterotopic gastric mucosa located within the diverticulum. Intestinal obstruction associated with Meckel’s diverticulum can result from several mechanisms:
Volvulus of the intestine around the fibrous band attaching the diverticulum to the umbilicus
Entrapment of intestine by a mesodiverticular band (Fig. 28-25)
Intussusception with the diverticulum acting as a lead point
Stricture secondary to chronic diverticulitis
Meckel’s diverticula can be found in inguinal or femoral hernia sacs (known as Littre’s hernia). These hernias, when incarcerated, can cause intestinal obstruction.
Meckel’s diverticula are asymptomatic unless associated complications arise. The lifetime incidence rate of complications arising in patients with Meckel’s diverticula has been estimated to be approximately 4% to 6%.62,63 Although initial data had suggested that the risk of developing a complication related to Meckel’s diverticulum decreases with age, this has been now been questioned. In a population-based review at Olmsted County, MN, Cullen and colleagues showed that the risk of developing Meckel’s-related complications does not change with age.
The most common presentations associated with symptomatic Meckel’s diverticula are bleeding, intestinal obstruction, and diverticulitis. Bleeding is the most common presentation in children with Meckel’s diverticula, representing over 50% of Meckel’s diverticulum–related complications among patients less than 18 years of age. Bleeding associated with Meckel’s diverticula is rare among patients older than 30 years of age.
Intestinal obstruction is the most common presentation in adults with Meckel’s diverticula. Diverticulitis, present in 20% of patients with symptomatic Meckel’s diverticula, is associated with a clinical syndrome that is indistinguishable from acute appendiciti
Most Meckel’s diverticula are discovered incidentally on radiographic imaging, during endoscopy, or at the time of surgery. In the absence of bleeding, Meckel’s diverticula rarely are diagnosed prior to the time of surgical intervention. For those presenting with symptoms suggestive of a Meckel’s diverticulum, confirmatory imaging can be challenging. The sensitivity of CT scanning for the detection of Meckel’s diverticula is too low to be clinically useful. Enteroclysis is associated with an accuracy of 75% but is usually not applicable during acute presentations of complications related to Meckel’s diverticula. Radionuclide scans (99mTc-pertechnetate) can be helpful in the diagnosis of Meckel’s diverticulum; however, this test is positive only when the diverticulum contains associated ectopic gastric mucosa that is capable of uptake of the tracer (Fig. 28-26). The accuracy of radionuclide scanning is reported to be 90% in pediatric patients but less than 50% in adults. Angiography can localize the site of bleeding during acute hemorrhage related to Meckel’s diverticula
Treatment of symptomatic Meckel's diverticulum has always been surgical resection.