Incidence, complications, and management of Meckel's diverticulum.
OBJECTIVE
To elucidate the incidence of Meckel's diverticulum; to determine the correlation between the histologic type of the diverticulum's mucosa and its clinical presentation; and to review our experience with Meckel's diverticulum.


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
University hospital in Ioannina, Greece.


METHODS
A total of 2074 patients undergoing an appendectomy were examined intraoperatively for Meckel's diverticulum (subgroup A1). In addition, Meckel's diverticulum was found incidentally in 15 patients who were undergoing intra-abdominal surgery (subgroup A2). An operation for a complicated Meckel diverticulum was performed in an additional 15 patients (group B).


RESULTS
Thirty-three (1.59%) Meckel diverticulae were found incidentally among 2074 patients in subgroup A1. A positive correlation between Meckel's diverticulum and male sex was found (P < .004), but no difference was found in sex distribution between patients in group B and subgroup A1 (P < .6744). The histologic type of the mucosa (gastric) had significant positive correlation with the clinical presentation of the diverticulum (complicated) (P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
Resection of the unexpected Meckel diverticulum can be performed safely with a low complication rate, regardless of the patient's age.
Matsagas
M I
MI
Department of Surgery, University of Ioannina Medical School, Greece.
Fatouros
M
M
Koulouras
B
B
Giannoukas
A D
AD
D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001062:Appendectomy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008467:Meckel Diverticulum / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors