Perforation of Meckel's diverticulum manifesting as aseptic peritonitis in a neonate: report of a case.
We report a case of perforated Meckel's diverticulum with aseptic peritonitis in a 17-day-old neonate. The baby had been brought to the hospital with fever and abdominal distention. Abdominal computed tomography showed a 5-cm abscess in the lower abdomen, and emergency laparotomy was performed for suspected perforated appendicitis. However, we found a perforated Meckel's diverticulum. No bacteria were detected in the purulent ascites from the peritoneal cavity. We speculate that the narrow lumen between the small intestine and the diverticulum, accompanied by poor self-emptying had caused acute inflammation resulting in perforation of Meckel's diverticulum. The anatomic limitations in "walling off" the perforated Meckel's diverticulum by the surrounding loops of small intestine prevented the bowel contents from spreading within the peritoneal cavity.
Oyachi
Noboru
N
Division of Pediatric Surgery, Second Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Yamanashi University, 1110 Shimokato, Chuo, Yamanashi 409-3898, Japan.
Takano
Kunio
K
Hasuda
Norio
N
Arai
Hiroshi
H
Koshizuka
Kozo
K
Matsumoto
Masahiko
M
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D007813:Laparotomy; D008467:Meckel Diverticulum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery