Diagnostic difficulties in the treatment of complicated Meckel's diverticulum. Case study
DOI: 10.32364/2587-6821-2025-9-9-18
G.V. Yarovenko, E.V. Shestakov, P.V. Shulepov, A.I. Bezborodov, I.S. Andreev, E.S. Medvedeva
Samara State Medical University, Samara, Russian Federation
Meckel's diverticulum is a congenital anomaly of the ileum resulting from incomplete involution of the proximal yolk duct (vitelline duct). The prevalence is estimated at 1–3% of the population, with a higher incidence in male patients. Complications occur in 4–16% of cases and may include perforation, hemorrhage, and intestinal obstruction. The nonspecific clinical picture of Meckel's diverticulum complicates diagnosis, as it can mimic various acute surgical abdominal conditions. This article presents a case of patient P., a 32-year-old female admitted to the hospital with complaints of pain in the right iliac fossa, nausea, and general fatigue. Initial laboratory and imaging studies did not provide a definitive diagnosis. The diagnosis was established during diagnostic laparoscopy, which revealed perforation of the Meckel's diverticulum with diffuse peritonitis. Surgical treatment included diagnostic laparoscopy, revision and sanitation of the abdominal cavity, laparotomy via Volkovich-Dyakonov approach, wedge resection of the small intestine, appendectomy, and drainage of the abdominal cavity. Surgical intervention successfully eliminated the pathology. The postoperative period was uneventful.
This case highlights the diagnostic challenges of complicated Meckel's diverticulum, its potential to mask as other acute abdominal conditions, and the importance of laparoscopy as both a diagnostic and therapeutic modality.
Keywords: Meckel's diverticulum, congenital anomalies, Meckel's diverticulum complications, diagnosis, abdominal surgery.
For citation: Yarovenko G.V., Shestakov E.V., Shulepov P.V., Bezborodov A.I., Andreev I.S., Medvedeva E.S. Diagnostic difficulties in the treatment of complicated Meckel's diverticulum. Case study. Russian Medical Inquiry. 2025;9(9):663–667 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.32364/2587-6821-2025-9-9-18
About the authors:
Galina V. Yarovenko — Dr. Sc. (Med.), Professor of the Department of Hospital Surgery, Samara State Medical University; 89, Chapaevskaya str., Samara, 443099, Russian Federation; ORCID iD 0000-0002-5043-7193
Evgeny V. Shestakov — surgeon, Head of the Surgical Department of the Hospital Surgery Clinic, Samara State Medical University; 89, Chapaevskaya str., Samara, 443099, Russian Federation; ORCID iD 0000-0003-2941-6141
Pavel V. Shulepov — surgeon, Senior Laboratory Assistant at the Department of Hospital Surgery, Chief Specialist at the BioTech Research Institute, Samara State Medical University; 89, Chapaevskaya str., Samara, 443099, Russian Federation; ORCID iD 0009-0009-8938-9561
Alexey I. Bezborodov — surgeon of the Surgical Department of the Hospital Surgery Clinic, Samara State Medical University; 89, Chapaevskaya str., Samara, 443099, Russian Federation; ORCID iD 0000-0001-6297-3850
Ivan S. Andreev — C. Sc. (Med.), Assistant Professor of the Department of Hospital Surgery, Surgeon at the Surgical Department of the Hospital Surgery Clinic, Samara State Medical University; 89, Chapaevskaya str., Samara, 443099, Russian Federation; ORCID iD 0000-0002-2736-9196
Ekaterina S. Medvedeva — surgeon of the Surgical Department of the Hospital Surgery Clinic, Samara State Medical University; 89, Chapaevskaya str., Samara, 443099, Russian Federation; ORCID iD 0009-0002-8571-1559
Contact information: Evgeny V. Shestakov, e-mail: e.v.shestakov@samsmu.ru
Financial Disclosure: no authors have a financial or property interest in any material or method mentioned.
Conflict of interest: no conflict of interest.
Received 22.07.2025.
Revised 14.08.2025.
Accepted 28.08.2025.
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