INTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION CAUSED BY MECKEL'S DIVERTICULUM

Two cases of intestinal obstruction caused by Meckel's diverticulum are reported. One patient was a 11-year-old boy who underwent laparotomy after several episodes of bowel obstruction. At the time of surgery a large Meckel's diverticulum (2×10cm) was present in the ileum 60cm from the terminal ileum. The ileum developed 180 degree rotation around a fibrous strand connecting the diverticulum to the umbilicus. The other patient, a 14-year-old boy, was also operated on for ileus and found to have necrosis of the terminal ileum, measuring 1m in length, at laparotomy. Incarceration of a segment of the ileum resulted from adhesive ring formed by the mesenterium and Meckel's diverticulum (2×5cm). It must be taken into consideration that bowel obstruction occurs often as a complication of Meckel's diverticulum in Japan, when treating young adults with ileus.