title: Complications and management of Meckel's diverticulum--a review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the anatomy, symptomatology, diagnosis, complications and management of symptomatic and asymptomatic Meckel's diverticula.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Teaching hospital, The Netherlands.
  
  
  METHODS
  27 consecutive patients who underwent resection of a Meckel's diverticulum during the 16 year period 1 January 1981-31 August 1997.
  
  
  METHODS
  The symptomatology and histopathological findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  15 patients had symptoms and 12 did not. Haemorrhage and inflammation were the most common presenting symptoms. All histopathological signs of inflammation were found in those with symptomatic diverticula. Resected asymptomatic Meckel's diverticula were abnormal in only two occasions: one contained an adenocarcinoma and one a faecolith.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All symptomatic Meckel's diverticula should be resected. The surgical treatment of asymptomatic Meckel's diverticula is still controversial.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Saint Joseph Hospital, Veldhoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Fa-Si-Oen
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Roumen
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Croiset van Uchelen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008467:Meckel Diverticulum / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies