Symptomatic Meckel's diverticulum in newborn: two interesting additional cases and review of literature.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to review the literature about symptomatic Meckel's diverticulum (MD) in the neonatal period with 2 additional uncommon cases.

METHODS: The authors describe 2 interesting neonatal cases of symptomatic MD and analyze the literature on this topic, with particular reference to the prevalence of sex, age at presentation, most common signs and symptoms, treatment, histology, associated anomalies, and outcome.

RESULTS: The first patient was a term newborn with bowel obstruction by a pseudocystic MD. The second patient was a preterm infant with double perforation of the MD and ileum. Literature search for published case reports and case series on this topic reveals only 18 cases of neonatal symptomatic MD. Males are more frequently involved than females, and even preterm infants may be affected. Bowel obstruction (58.3%) and pneumoperitoneum (33.3%) are the most frequent clinical manifestation. Acute inflammation of the MD is the prominent histopathological finding (75%), although it does not seem to be related with the presence of heterotopic tissue within the MD. Surgical treatment is essential. The association of neonatal symptomatic MD with other anomalies is exceptional but is otherwise life threatening despite surgery.

CONCLUSIONS: Bowel obstruction and pneumoperitoneum are the most frequent clinical manifestations of symptomatic MD in the newborn. Surgery is required for a definitive diagnosis and successful outcome.