Incidence, complications, and management of Meckel's diverticulum.

OBJECTIVES: To elucidate the incidence of Meckel's diverticulum; to determine the correlation between the histologic type of the diverticulum's mucosa and its clinical presentation; and to review our experience with Meckel's diverticulum.

DESIGN: Case-control study.

SETTING: University hospital in Ioannina, Greece.

PATIENTS: A total of 2074 patients undergoing an appendectomy were examined intraoperatively for Meckel's diverticulum (subgroup A1). In addition, Meckel's diverticulum was found incidentally in 15 patients who were undergoing intra-abdominal surgery (subgroup A2). An operation for a complicated Meckel diverticulum was performed in an additional 15 patients (group B).

RESULTS: Thirty-three (1.59%) Meckel diverticulae were found incidentally among 2074 patients in subgroup A1. A positive correlation between Meckel's diverticulum and male sex was found (P < .004), but no difference was found in sex distribution between patients in group B and subgroup A1 (P < .6744). The histologic type of the mucosa (gastric) had significant positive correlation with the clinical presentation of the diverticulum (complicated) (P < .001).

CONCLUSION: Resection of the unexpected Meckel diverticulum can be performed safely with a low complication rate, regardless of the patient's age.