Meckel's Diverticulum
Meckel’s diverticulum is the name given to a small swelling (a diverticulum is an out-pouching of the gut wall at a point of weakness; Meckel was the man who described this one first) that is found about 2 feet or more from the end of the ileum - that part of the small bowel that leads to the caecum, the first part of the large bowel. It occurs in 2% of the population, and is about 2 inches long. It contains embryonic material which may be either cells from the lining of the stomach, the gastric mucosa, or from the pancreas. It can bleed, block the bowel or become inflamed, causing pain that is difficult to differentiate from appendicitis (because the appendix lies close by). Surgical removal is the treatment for a Meckel’s diverticulum that’s become difficult.
|
