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Although Meckel's diverticulum is the most common congenital abnormality of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, complications in adults are rare, especially in the elderly. Intestinal obstruction is the most common complication in the adult, and inflammation mimicking acute appendicitis may also occur. Lower GI bleeding as a result of Meckel's diverticulum with ectopic gastric mucosa is distinctly unusual among the elderly, with most previous case reports involving patients under the age of 40. The case we report involved a 91-year-old man with massive lower GI hemorrhage found to be due to a Meckel's diverticulum with ectopic gastric mucosa.

A woman who was 30 weeks pregnant was given terbutaline sulfate to prevent premature labor contractions. Within several days, she had an acute paraparesis with myalgias and was unable to walk. Full neurologic investigation failed to show any obvious cause. Terbutaline therapy was discontinued, and in 48 hours she became asymptomatic. Terbutaline sulfate (Brethine) is a beta-adrenergic agonist that works on smooth muscle. Various theories about its effect on skeletal muscle have been published. The importance of this case report is to make physicians aware of the rare muscular side effects of terbutaline, and careful observation may obviate extensive and invasive testing.