Exploring the Various Presentations of Meckel's Diverticulum in adults

Background: Meckel’s diverticulum is a prevalent congenital anomaly of the gastrointestinal tract, resulting from the incomplete closure of the vitelline duct during the fifth week of gestation. Although often asymptomatic, it can lead to severe complications such as perforation, intestinal obstruction, hemorrhage, and acute diverticulitis. Understanding its anatomy and pathophysiology is crucial. The study aims to highlight the presentation of this disease and raise awareness among clinicians to ensure early intervention, ultimately reducing associated morbidity and mortality. Methods: In this study, 24 patients were assessed at our institution over one year from July 2023 to June 2024. Out of these, 16 presented with symptoms, while eight were incidental findings. The cases manifested as intestinal obstruction, perforation, and incidental Meckel’s diverticulum. This study describes five cases of Meckel’s diverticulum with various presentations. Results: Out of the 24 patients assessed, 16 presented with symptoms, and eight were incidental findings. Males were affected almost twice as often as females, with 17 cases compared to seven females. Conclusion: Symptomatic Meckel’s diverticulum is typically treated with surgical resection, which may involve wedge or partial ileum resection with end-to-end anastomosis. The outcomes are generally favorable. Because of diagnostic challenges, surgeons often recommend prophylactic diverticulectomy when incidentally found, as it has lower morbidity rates than resecting pathological diverticula. Timely intervention is crucial for preventing hospital mortality and morbidity