Spontaneous perforation of Meckel's diverticulum without peritonitis in a newborn: report of a case.
A case of a newborn male with a perforation of Meckel's diverticulum is reported. The clinical course consisted of progressive abdominal distention and pneumoperitoneum that formed within 29 h after birth. The perforation of Meckel's diverticulum was not associated with peritonitis because meconium did not contaminate the abdominal cavity. The histology of the diverticulum showed a nearly intact muscular layer but a focal muscular defect. Neither any inflammatory phenomena nor ectopic mucosa was found. A congenital focal muscular defect of the diverticulum and a sudden elevation of intraluminal pressure due to bowel movement after birth may thus be the pathogenesis of a spontaneous perforation. A search of the English literature did not reveal any similar case.
Chang
Yu-Tang
YT
Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, 100 Tzyou 1st Road, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan.
Lin
Jan-You
JY
Huang
Yu-Sheng
YS
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007813:Laparotomy; D008297:Male; D008467:Meckel Diverticulum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D011027:Pneumoperitoneum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous