• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.98-104
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• 2019

We report a rare case of Meckel's diverticulum in a boy who initially presented with chronic iron deficiency anemia (IDA) without any history of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding at 8 years-old. Isolated small bowel Crohn's disease was suspected based on findings of small bowel ulcers on capsule endoscopy. At four years from initial presentation, he developed massive GI bleeding. Abdominal computed tomographic angiography and small bowel series revealed findings suggestive of Meckel's diverticulum. Meckel's diverticulum should be suspected in children with unexplained chronic IDA even in the absence of prominent GI bleeding and negative findings on repetitive Meckel's scans. Moreover, Meckel's diverticulum should be included in the differential diagnosis of isolated small bowel Crohn's disease when the disease is limited to a short segment of the distal small bowel, as ulcers and inflammation may result as a consequence of acid secreted from adjacent heterotopic gastric mucosa constituting the Meckel's diverticulum.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.119-123
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• 2004

Meckel's diverticulum is the most common malformation of gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms of Meckel's diverticulum usually arise within 2 years of life. The most common presentations include hemorrhage, perforation, diverticulitis and intestinal obstruction. Perforation of the Meckel's diverticulum in a neonate is uncommon but life threatening condition. We describe the first case of perforation of Meckel's diverticulum in a 1-day-old neonate who presented with abdominal distension without hemorrhage.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.75-79
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• 2006

Intussusception is a frequent cause of intestinal obstruction in early childhood and most are idiopathic in origin. In a minority of cases a definite pathological lead point is identified by imaging studying or during surgery. As the pathologic lead point of intussusception, Meckel's diverticulum is the most common lesion. In symptomatic patients, 40~60% of Meckel's diverticulum contain ectopic tissue, with gastric mucosa being far the most common type. A few Meckel's diverticulum contain pancreatic tissue. Combined heterotopic pancreatic and gastric tissues in the Meckel's diverticulum especially causing intussusception is extremely rare. We report the case of 5-year-old girl with an intussusception caused by Meckel's diverticulum containing both heterotopic gastric and pancreatic tissues.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.222-225
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• 2005

Meckel's diverticulum is generally acknowledged to be the most prevalent congenital anomaly of the gastrointestinal tract. The preoperative diagnosis of Meckel's diverticulum is difficult, especially in neonates, because of the lesions ability to masquerade as one of a variety of much more common abdominal pathologies. Recently we experienced a case of perforated Meckel's diverticulum with mild inflammatory reaction, intestinal adhesion, and small bowel obstruction in a previous healthy 9-day-old neonate. The spontaneous perforation of Meckel's diverticulum in neonate is very rare but serious entity. The course was rapid and progressed to sepsis. So despite its varied presentation, Meckel's diverticulum should be kept in mind as a cause of acute abdomen in neonates.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.466-472
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• 2002

Purpose : The diagnosis of Meckel's diverticulum is difficult and delayed because it presents with various clinical symptoms. We evaluated clinical, imaging and pathologic findings of Meckel's diverticulum to facilitate detection of Meckel's diverticulum in children. Methods : Review of clinical, imaging, surgical and pathological findings in 10 children aged 7 days to 14 years with Meckel's diverticulum during an 8-year period, 1993-2001, at Ewha Womans University Hospital was undertaken. Results : The male to female ratio was 2.3 : 1. The chief complaint was painless lower gastrointestinal( GI) bleeding; others were abdominal pain, abdominal distention and vomiting, in order of frequency. The diagonsis before surgery were Meckel's diverticulum in 5 patients, non-reducible intussusception in 3 patients and intestinal obstruction in 2 patients. The diverticulum was located between 35 cm to 70 cm proximal to the ileocecal valve. The length of the diverticulum ranged from 4 cm to 12 cm and 80% of it was within 5 cm. A Meckel scan($^{99m}Tc-pertechnetate$ scintigraphy) after cimetidine administration was done in 6 cases. All 5 cases that presented with lower GI bleeding had ectopic gastric mucosa confirmed on pathology. Out of 5 cases of ectopic gastric mucosa, only 4 cases were positive on the Meckel's scan. Conclusion : In cases of unexplained GI bleeding, obstruction, or inflammation diagnostic workup should be carried out to rule out Meckel's diverticulum. Laparoscopy, high resolution ultrasonography and computed tomography of the abdomen may be indicated in the assessment of pediatric patient with lower GI bleeding, especially in patients with suspected bleeding from Meckel's diverticulum showing negative Meckel's scan.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.157-161
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• 2001

Meckel's diverticulum is one of the common causes of gastrointestinal bleeding in the pediatric patient requiring laparotomy. Two children with Meckel's diverticulum have been successfully treated by laparoscopic excision. Both patients recovered without incident and were discharged at 3 and 5 days after surgery. The authors believe that laparoscopic diverticulectomy is a safe, effective. and minimal invasive treatment of Meckel's diverticulum in children.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.127-134
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• 2007

Meckel's diverticulum is the most common congenital anomaly of gastrointestinal tract in children. The incidence of complicated Meckel's diverticulum is about 4 %. The major complications of Meckel's diverticulum are bleeding, intussusception, obstruction and perforation. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical manifestations and the role of laparoscopic surgery in complicated Meckel's diverticulum in children. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 19 patients with complicated Meckel's diverticulum who underwent operation at Asan Medical Center between Jan. 1990 and Apr. 2007. Male to female ratio was 11:8, and median age was 1 year (1 day-13 years). The most frequent symptom was hematochezia (68%), followed by irritability or abdominal pain (16%), vomiting (11%), and abdominal distension (5%). Two operative procedures were performed; small bowel resection with anastomosis (68%) and diverticulectomy (32%). The operation proven complications of the Meckel's diverticulum were bleeding (68%), intussusception (16%), perforation (11%) and obstruction (5%). Ectopic tissues found by postoperative pathologic examination were gastric (84%) and pancreatic (11%). Hospital stay after laparoscopic operation for bleeding Meckel's was 5 days (median) and average first postoperative feeding was 1.5 days. On the contrary, hospital stay for open surgery was 7 days and first feed was 3 days. In summary, the most common compliation of Meckel's diverticulum in children was bleeding and ectopic gastric tissues were present in 84%. Laparoscopic procedure seemed to be useful for diagnosis as well as for definitive treatment.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 1998

Of 72 patients with vitelline duct and vessel remnants, 45 (62.5 %) had symptomatic lesions. The mean age of the patients was 27.9 months. Males predominated (4.6 : 1). There were 22 cases of Meckel's diverticulum, 6 of Meckel's diverticulum attatched to the umbilicus with a fibrous band, 6 cases of patent vitelline duct, 5 cases of vitelline artery remnants as a fibrous band and 2 cases each of umbilical sinus and polyp, and vitelline cyst. Twenty-three patients (51 %) presented with intestinal obstruction, 6(13 %) with rectal bleeding, 4(9 %) with perforated Meckel's diverticulum, 5 with intestinal juice drainage through umbilicus, 5 with umbilical lesions, 1 with abdominal mass, and 1 with sepsis. Intestinal obstruction due to fibrous band developed during infancy(average age; 4.6 months). Seventeen asymptomatic Meckel's diverticulum, 8 obliterated vitelline artery remnants and 1 vitelline vein remnant as fibrous band, and 1 vitelline cyst were found incidentally at laparotomy. About 82 % of the complicated Meckel's diverticulum presented in infants and children less than 4 years of age.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.56-59
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• 2005

Intussusception is the most common cause of intestinal obstruction in early childhood and characterized by periodic colicky abdominal pain or irritability, vomiting, current jelly stool, and sausage-like abdominal mass. Meckel's diverticulum is common intestinal anomaly presenting with painless rectal bleeding during first 2 year of age. It is recognized as a common leading point of intussusception in childhood. Hematemesis is the rare clinical manifestation of both intussusception and Meckel's diverticulum. A 7-year-old girl presented with hematemesis was diagnosed as having intussusception by abdominal ultrasonography. Meckel's diverticulum was the leading point of intussusception in this case.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2007

A vitelline duct (VD) anomaly is a relatively common congenital abnormality of the umbilical area. The anomalies include patent vitelline duct (PVD), cyst, fistula or sinus. The incidence is approximately 2% of the populations, but development of symptoms is rare. Recently, we experienced two cases; PVD accompanied by a small omphalocele and intestinal volvulus due to mesenteric band between Meckel's diverticulum and the mesentery. Thereafter,we evaluated the data of vitelline duct anomalies for 27 years. From 1980 to 2006, 18 cases of VD anomalies were reviewed based on the hospital records retrospectively. There were 15 boys and 3 girls and age ranged from 2 days to 15 years. Among the 18 cases, 15 cases were symptomatic and consisted of Meckel's diverticulum (10 cases), PVD (4 cases) and umbilical polyp (1 case). Three asymptomatic cases of Meckel's diverticulum were found incidentally were and were observed without resection. Ten cases of Meckel's diverticulum were presented with intestinal bleedings (4 cases), intestinal obstructions (5 cases) and perforation (1 case). Wedge resections and segmental resections of ileum were performed in 8 patients and 2 patients, respectively. Postoperative complications were adhesive ileus (1 case) and wound seroma (1 case). Small omphaloceles were accompanied in two of 4 PVD patients. There was 1 small omphalocele case which was accompanied by a prolapse of ileum. In summary, VD anomalies were more common in male and more than half of them were found in patients less than 1 year of age. PVD was diagnosed most frequently in neonates. Meckel's diverticulum presented with intestinal obstruction more frequently than bleeding.