SMALL BOWEL OBSTRUCTION IN A 25 YEAR OLD DUE TO MECKEL’S DIVERTICULUM (PATENT VITELLOINTESTINAL DUCT): A CASE REPORT

Abstract

Meckel’s diverticulum is a congenital outpouching of the small intestine resulting from an incomplete obliteration of the vitelline (omphalomesenteric) duct. It is the most common gastrointestinal malformation, occurring in approximately 2% of the populationscirp.org. Most Meckel’s diverticula remain asymptomatic throughout life; if symptoms occur, they usually manifest in childhood – classically as painless gastrointestinal bleeding – with intestinal obstruction being a less frequent but significant complicationscielo.isciii.esscielo.isciii.es. In adults, however, small bowel obstruction is recognized as the most common complication of a Meckel’s diverticulumscielo.isciii.es. A persistent vitellointestinal duct (a remnant connecting the ileum to the umbilicus) causing intestinal obstruction in an adult is exceedingly rare, with only a handful of cases documentedijsr.net. We report the case of a 25-year-old patient who presented with an acute small bowel obstruction caused by a Meckel’s diverticulum forming a constricting band (patent vitellointestinal duct). This case underlines the importance of considering congenital anomalies in the differential diagnosis of bowel obstruction in adults with no prior surgical history.