title: Meckel's diverticulum and intestinal obstruction--report of a fatal case.
abstract: Meckel's diverticulum is an uncommon cause of intestinal obstruction in adult life. Rarely Meckel's diverticulum is complicated by a mesodiverticular band, which is believed to be a remnant of a vitelline artery. When this abnormality occurs it is associated with high mortality. We present a case of a 48-year-old man with increasing abdominal pain and vomiting for 3 days. Meckel's diverticulum was not taken into diagnostic consideration, and the man died. Autopsy revealed a Meckel's diverticulum with a mesodiverticular band and intestinal obstruction. Histological examination of cross sections of the mesodiverticular band showed the presence of an artery. Because of the high mortality of this rare anatomic anomaly in adults, we find the case of interest.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Aarhus, Peter Sabroesgade 15, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. janc@dadlnet.dk
authors.forename: Jan Christensen
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Vork
authors.forename: Ingrid Bayer
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Kristensen
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008467:Meckel Diverticulum / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D014839:Vomiting / Q000209:etiology