title: Laparoscopy for treating a small bowel obstruction due to a Meckel's diverticulum.
abstract: A Meckel's diverticulum is one cause of small bowel obstruction in the virgin abdomen. A 17-year-old female presented with a 24-hour history of lower abdominal pain and emesis. Radiological imaging studies revealed a high-grade partial small bowel obstruction. A diagnostic laparoscopy was performed revealing a bowel obstruction secondary to a Meckel's diverticulum. The diverticulum was resected using an endovascular GIA stapler. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 3, tolerating a regular diet. Laparoscopy is a useful diagnostic and therapeutic tool for a patient with a small bowel obstruction with an unclear etiology.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Surgery, Baystate Medical Center Children's Hospital, Tufts University School of Medicine, Springfield, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Tashjian
authors.forename: Kevin P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Moriarty
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D007421:Intestine, Small; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008467:Meckel Diverticulum / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*