title: Small bowel obstruction due to a persistent omphalomesenteric duct.
abstract: We report a case of a Meckel diverticulum connected with the umbilicus through a fibrotic cord causing small bowel obstruction. On admission, the patient presented with an acute abdomen. A plain upright radiography of the abdomen, an ultrasonography of the abdomen, and an enema with gastrografin were performed, showing a small bowel obstruction at the level of the pre-terminal ileum, without revealing the cause. Urgent surgery followed, showing a persistent omphalomesenteric duct connected to the abdominal wall through a fibrotic cord, with a secondary volvulus of the small bowel. The remnant was resected and the volvulus reduced. The post-operative course was uneventful. Because of the serious complications and even possible mortality due to ischemic disease of the affected small bowel the possibility of a complicated persistent omphalomesenteric duct should be kept in mind, even if the preoperative work-up does not reveal a Meckel diverticulum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Stedelijk Ziekenhuis Roeselare, Belgium.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Herman
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gryspeerdt
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kerckhove
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Matthijs
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lefere
mesh_terms: D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000209:etiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007077:Ileal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology*; D045822:Intestinal Volvulus / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008467:Meckel Diverticulum / Q000150:complications*; D014816:Vitelline Duct / Q000473:pathology