Case report: Young male with Meckels diverticulum - laparoscopic approach

In this work we present a 19 years old male who was treated for repeated bloody stools. After initial diagnostics at our gastroenterology department the diagnosis of Meckels diverticulum was among others presumed. The usual algorythm for this disease includes radioisotope scanning. This protocol was also applied here additional extended with gastroscopy and colonoscopy. The results was incompatible. Further, contrast-enhanced CT scan showed no clear sign of bleeding and high resolution ultrasound neither gave new answers. The patient was then transferred to our surgical department for an operation. Exploratory laparoscopy was performed and a thickened part of ileum that adhered to its mesenterium was found. It looked like it was an inflammatory disease so the minimal laparotomy was later performed through which the resection of the part of the ileum was done. Patohistological examination revealed a Meckels diverticulum. The patient recovered with no posoperative complications. Therefore we propose an active, surgical - by that we mean laparoscopic - approach with both diagnostic and therapeuticall effect in all similar cases of unclear small intestine pathology. By doing so we can easily eliminate numerous diagnostic treatments and so significantly reduce both hospital costs and days.