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Meckel Diverticulum

Congenital bulge in small intestine causing severe pain, abdominal bloating, and rectal bleeding.Encyclopedia Entry for Meckel Diverticulum :Meckel diverticulum. A Meckel diverticulum is tissue left over from when the baby's digestive tract was forming before birth. A small number of people have a Meckel diverticulum. However, only a few develop symptoms.Symptoms may include: Pain in the abdomen that can be mild or severe Blood in the stool Nausea and vomiting Symptoms often occur during the first few years of life. However, they may not start until adulthood.You may have the following tests: Hematocrit Hemoglobin Stool smear for invisible blood ( stool occult blood test ) CT scan Technetium scan (also called a Meckel scan).You may need surgery to remove the diverticulum if bleeding develops. The segment of small intestine that contains the diverticulum is taken out. The ends of the intestine are sewn back together. You may need to take iron supplements to treat anemia. You may need a blood transfusion if you have a lot of bleeding,.Most people recover fully from surgery and will not have the problem come back. Complications from the surgery are also unlikely.Complications may include: Excess bleeding (hemorrhage) from the diverticulum Folding of the intestines ( intussusception ), a type of blockage Peritonitis Tear (perforation) of the bowel at the diverticulum.See your health care provider right away if your child passes blood or bloody stool or has ongoing abdominal pain.Digestive system Digestive system Digestive system organs Digestive system organs Meckel Meckel's diverticulectomy - series.Bass LM, Wershil BK. Anatomy, histology, embryology, and developmental anomalies of the small and large intestine.