Perforated Meckel's diverticulitis complicating pregnancy at 28 weeks' gestation misdiagnosed as appendicitis

Perforated Meckel's diverticulum is an extremely rare cause of an acute abdomen in pregnancy. Its clinical presentation is similar to that of appendicitis and diagnosis is delayed in most cases. We present a patient who developed increasing abdominal pain and leukocytosis at 28 weeks of gestati...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Wen-Ting Hu, Qing-Ying Zhang, Hai-Dong Cheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Health/LWW 2018-01-01
Series:Reproductive and Developmental Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.repdevmed.org/article.asp?issn=2096-2924;year=2018;volume=2;issue=3;spage=187;epage=189;aulast=Hu
Description
Summary:Perforated Meckel's diverticulum is an extremely rare cause of an acute abdomen in pregnancy. Its clinical presentation is similar to that of appendicitis and diagnosis is delayed in most cases. We present a patient who developed increasing abdominal pain and leukocytosis at 28 weeks of gestation. She was misdiagnosed with appendicular peritonitis until acute exploratory laparotomy. Regarding related published cases up to now, most cases did not make a correct preoperative diagnosis of Meckel's diverticulum. This case suggests that Meckel's diverticulum in pregnancy may have serious consequences. A high index of suspicion and a low threshold for surgical intervention are required to minimize morbidity and mortality.
ISSN:2096-2924