A bleeding Meckel’s diverticulum is presented in a 4-month-old African American infant. This event is rare at this age, and our patient is only the second 4-month-old infant reported in the English literature. The infant presented with painless frank rectal bleeding, the blood being maroon-colored, and clots were found in the diaper. There was also anemia, with an hemoglobin of less than 8 gm/dl. The color of the blood suggested a bleeding site in the ileo-cecal region, a Meckel’s diverticulum was suspected, which was then confirmed by an isotope scan. A typical Meckel’s diverticulum was found on laparoscopic surgery, was excised, and the infant made an uneventful recovery

Pence, Jeffrey C

Poley, J Rainer

Thielen, Thomas E

English

PubMed

J Rainer Poley1, Thomas E Thielen2, Jeffrey C Pence31Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition; 2Resident in Pediatrics; 3Assistant Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Surgery, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USAAbstract: A bleeding Meckel&amp;rsquo;s diverticulum is presented in a 4-month-old African American infant. This event is rare at this age, and our patient is only the second 4-month-old infant reported in the English literature. The infant presented with painless frank rectal bleeding, the blood being maroon-colored, and clots were found in the diaper. There was also anemia, with an hemoglobin of less than 8 gm/dl. The color of the blood suggested a bleeding site in the ileocecal region, a Meckel&amp;rsquo;s diverticulum was suspected, which was then confirmed by an isotope scan. A typical Meckel&amp;rsquo;s diverticulum was found on laparoscopic surgery, was excised, and the infant made an uneventful recovery. Keywords: infant-bleeding Meckel&amp;rsquo;s diverticulum, laparoscopic diverticulectom

J Rainer Poley

Thomas E Thielen

Jeffrey C Pence

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Clinical and Experimental Gastroenterology

Bleeding Meckel&amp;rsquo;s diverticulum in a 4-month-old infant: Treatment with laparoscopic diverticulectomy. A case report and review of the literature

A bleeding Meckel’s diverticulum is presented in a 4-month-old African American infant. This event is rare at this age, and our patient is only the second 4-month-old infant reported in the English literature. The infant presented with painless frank rectal bleeding, the blood being maroon-colored, and clots were found in the diaper. There was also anemia, with an hemoglobin of less than 8 gm/dl. The color of the blood suggested a bleeding site in the ileocecal region, a Meckel’s diverticulum was suspected, which was then confirmed by an isotope scan. A typical Meckel’s diverticulum was found on laparoscopic surgery, was excised, and the infant made an uneventful recovery

Poley, J. Rainer

Thielen, Thomas E.

Pence, Jeffrey C.

CORE

Wright State University CORE Scholar Department of Surgery Faculty Publications Surgery 2009 Bleeding Meckel’s Diverticulum in a 4-Month-Old Infant: Treatment with Laparoscopic Diverticulectomy. A Case Report and Review of the Literature J. Rainer Poley Thomas E. Thielen Jeffrey C. Pence Wright State University, jeffrey.pence@wright.edu Follow this and additional works at: https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/surg  Part of the Surgery Commons Repository Citation Poley, J. R., Thielen, T. E., & Pence, J. C. (2009). Bleeding Meckel’s Diverticulum in a 4-Month-Old Infant: Treatment with Laparoscopic Diverticulectomy. A Case Report and Review of the Literature. Clinical and Experimental Gastroenterology, 2, 37-40. https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/surg/666 This Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Surgery at CORE Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in Department of Surgery Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of CORE Scholar. For more information, please contact library-corescholar@wright.edu. © 2009 Poley et al, publisher and licensee Dove Medical Press Ltd. This is an Open Access article which permits unrestricted noncommercial use, provided the original work is properly cited.Clinical and Experimental Gastroenterology 2009:2 37–40 37C A S E  R E P O RTBleeding Meckel’s diverticulum in a 4-month-oldinfant:  Treatment with laparoscopic diverticulectomy. A case report and review of the literatureJ Rainer Poley1Thomas E Thielen2Jeffrey C Pence31Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition; 2Resident in Pediatrics; 3Assistant Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Surgery, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USACorrespondence:  J Rainer PoleySection of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Brody School of Medicine, 600 Moye Boulevard, Greenville NC 27834, USATel +1 252 744 4963Fax +1 252 744 2791Email poleyr@ecu.eduAbstract: A bleeding Meckel’s diverticulum is presented in a 4-month-old African American infant. This event is rare at this age, and our patient is only the second 4-month-old infant reported in the English literature. The infant presented with painless frank rectal bleeding, the blood being maroon-colored, and clots were found in the diaper. There was also anemia, with an hemoglobin of less than 8 gm/dl. The color of the blood suggested a bleeding site in the ileo-cecal region, a Meckel’s diverticulum was suspected, which was then confi rmed by an isotope scan. A typical Meckel’s diverticulum was found on laparoscopic surgery, was excised, and the infant made an uneventful recovery.Keywords: infant-bleeding Meckel’s diverticulum, laparoscopic diverticulectomyCase reportA 4-month-old African American male infant (MC) was admitted to Children’s Hospital of East Carolina because of rectal bleeding and anemia. The infant had been in good general health until the day of admission when, in the morning of the same day, he had a rather marked episode of painless frank rectal bleeding without any recognizable preceding event. The blood in the diaper was maroon-colored, and there were clots. There was no history of ano-rectal trauma or previous rectal bleeding. No fever, diarrhea, or vomiting were reported. Feedings consisted of Enfamil Lipil, which he always took well. Growth and weight gain as well as psychomotor development were normal. Past medical history was remarkable only for transient gastroesophageal refl ux, which had become asymptomatic. Family history was noncontributory.On physical examination, the infant appeared well-nourished, alert, and in no acute distress. Weight was 6.64 kg, respiration rate 28/min, blood pressure 93/50, heart rate 132 bpm. He had a 1–2/6 systolic murmur (anemia). Abdomen was soft and nontender, with a small umbilical hernia; there was no hepato-splenomegaly, and no masses were palpable. Rectal exam showed hemoccult-positive material on the examining glove. Laboratory data: WBC 10.3, hemoglobin 7.7 gm/dl, hematocrit 22%, platelet count was 645 K; serum electrolytes, liver panel, prothrombin, and partial thromboplastin times were all normal.Because of a suspected bleeding Meckel’s diverticulum (MD), a radionuclide scan with 99 m Tc-pertechnetate was performed (after pre-treatment with an H2 receptor antagonist [Cimetidine; GlaxoSmithKline]), which showed a “blush” or increased radiotracer uptake in the mid-lower abdomen, which was highly suggestive of an MD.Subsequently, a laparoscopy-assisted diverticulectomy was done one day after admission. During the operative procedure, no obstructive features were seen, but the tip of the diverticulum was attached to a fi brous band, which inserted into the root of the mesentery. This band was transected, allowing free mobility of the diverticulum, Clinical and Experimental Gastroenterology 2009:238Poley et alwhich was removed by simple excision. Height of the diverticulum was measured at 28–30 mm, the base was 15 mm, giving a height:diameter ratio of about 2. The tip of the diverticulum appeared thickened. After resection and inspection, a contracted ulceration was identifi ed in the area of ectopic gastric tissue at the junction to the thickened mucosa, which was shown to harbor ectopic pancreatic tissue. During the same session, the umbilical hernia was repaired. No other intra-abdominal abnormalities were encountered, as have been mentioned by St. Vil and colleagues.1 The infant made an uneventful recovery, and on follow-up examination (JCP), all appeared to be well.Pathological examination of the excised diverticulum showed ectopic gastric mucosa of the parietal cell variety, as well as ectopic pancreatic tissue.DiscussionFrequency and clinical presentations of a MD in infantsMD is the most common congenital abnormality of the intestinal tract, and it represents the nonobliterated remnant of the omphalo-mesenteric or vitelline duct. Its tip can sometimes be attached to the mesenteric root (25% and as in the case on record), by the fi brous remnant of one of the vitelline arteries.2We were able to fi nd only one other infant (boy) aged four months with a bleeding MD in the accessible English literature.3 However, according to a report by Vane and colleagues,4 the age range of 48 patients with a bleeding MD was four months to four years, but no further age details were given. Imaeda and colleagues5 reported a 7-month-old boy with an intermittently bleeding MD. In a review of 158 infants less than one year old with intestinal bleeding (no further age details), only six (3.8%) presented with a bleeding MD.6Brookes7 reported on 43 children with MD, and the youngest patient with a bleeding MD was nine months old. Rutherford and Akers8 showed that 43 of 80 patients with symptomatic presentation had a bleeding MD, and 60% of their patients presented with that symptom, but no age range was available. In a 20-year review by St. Vil and colleagues1 from the Hôpital St. Justine (Montréal PQ), bleeding occurred in 45 of 164 (27%) of patients with an MD, and 60% were less than fi ve years old, but no other age indicators were presented.In a review from Spain9 of 18 patients with an MD, the youngest one was fi ve months old, but no further details are known.Pellerin and colleagues10 presented 250 pediatric patients from France, of which 30% had an MD with hemorrhage, and only fi ve of 35 patients were less than seven years old. Unfortunately, no other details are known.The expanded rule of 2’s is usually clinically applicable:1. Occurs in about 2% of the population (1% in one series,11 3% in another12)2. Located in the distal ileum, within two feet of the ileo-cecal valve3. Usually two inches in length4. Commonly 2 cm in diameter5. 2:1 male:female ratio6. Two ectopic tissues (gastric and pancreatic)7. Commonly symptomatic before two years oldSymptomatic MD due to hemorrhage is said to be quite rare in the neonatal period.2,13 The cause of bleeding from an MD is usually due to ulceration either in the ectopic gastric tissue within the diverticulum, or due to ulceration (acid-related), in the ileal mucosa adjacent to the diverticu-lum.14,15 Bleeding per rectum is usually painless, the color of the blood can be either be bright red, probably due to brisk bleeding and more rapid colonic transit, but more often it is maroon-colored and may be associated with clots, whereas a tarry stool is infrequent,8 presumably due to a slow rate of bleeding and decreased colonic transit.Bleeding may be episodic, and sometimes can be massive, leading to a signifi cant decrease in hemoglobin, usually 8 gm/dl (Poley, pers comm).8Complications, other than hemorrhage due to an MD in the newborn period are more common, such as peritonitis due to perforation, obstruction due to volvulus because of omphalomesenteric or meso-diverticular bands.4,8,14PathologyAn MD is located on the antimesenteric side of the distal ileum, it may be situated anywhere between 20 cm2 to 90 cm proximal to the ileo-ceal valve.16 The length of an MD is usually 2–3 cm, although giant forms have been described.16 Ectopic or heterotopic tissues from other sites of the gastrointestinal tract may be present in a symptom-atic MD (Table 1). Heterotopic tissue, which was mostly gastric, occurred in all patients presenting with intestinal hemorrhage. Langerhans islets were identifi ed in pancreatic heterotopic tissue.9Whereas gastric heterotopic tissue is responsible for bleeding in an MD, presence of pancreatic tissue, owing to ist mass effect, may act as a leading point for intussuscep-tion and volvulus.1Clinical and Experimental Gastroenterology 2009:2 39Bleeding Meckel’s diverticulum in a 4-month-old infantDiagnostic approachThe now most commonly used diagnostic modality is the scintiscan (Meckel’s scan) employing 99 m Technetium Pertechnetate, which is preferentially taken up by the mucus/acid secreting cells of the gastric mucosa.17 A 10-year review of 954 scintiscans (mixed population) for the diagnosis of an MD found that only 1.7% were false-negative, and 0.05% were false-positive, giving a sensitivity of 85%, and a specifi city of 95%, with an accuracy of 90%.15 These scans are said to have a greater diagnostic accuracy in children with a sensitivity of 95%,18 as compared to adults. Swaniker and colleagues19 showed that the negative predictive value of the scinitiscan was 74% in pediatric patients with a hemoglobin of 11 gm/dl, (8 of 31 patients with a bleeding MD). The same authors feel, that in such situation, the scintiscan would limit the contribution of the test in clinical decision making.Efforts have been made, to enhance the accuracy of the Meckel’s scan. Sfakianakis and colleagues20 have tested the usefulness of Meckel’s scan on experimental MDs fashioned in dogs, and found that pentagastrin, compared with other gastrointestinal hormones, enhanced the uptake of the radio-nuclide by the ectopic gastric mucosa. However, increased acid secretion stimulated by pentagastrin in gastric tissue may be clinically undesirable.21The H2-receptor antagonist cimetidine (GlaxoSmithKline) has also been used to enhance the accuracy of the scintiscan for the detection of an MD.21,22 Cimetidine is thought to prevent the release of pertechnetate from the gastric cells, allowing the possible conversion of a negative to a positive scan. We believe that, in our patient with a hemoglobin much lower then 11%, pre-treatment with cimetidine contributed to the positive result of the scintiscan. Sfakianakis and colleagues23 have already shown that cimetidine increased the sensitivity of the scintiscan to 90%, that the drug is safe with no signifi cant risk of side effects.Ultrasonography has been used as a diagnostic means to detect an MD,24,25 as the visualization of a tubular hyperechoic structure could be suggestive of an MD. Also, routine color Doppler sonography may show anomalous vessels as well as infl ammation on the wall of the diverticulum. Barium contrast studies of the gastrointestinal tract and arteriography have a low diagnostic yield.14TreatmentThe treatment of choice of a bleeding or another complication causing MD is diverticulectomy. This has been done through exploratory laparotomy, but with the advent of laparoscopic techniques, such approach has become feasible in infants and small children.24–26 In the two latter reports, the youngest patient was seven months old. Thus, we think that the laparo-scopic resection of the MD in our patient could have been a surgical fi rst, but it could conceivably have been done before and been unpublished. At any rate, this technique is feasible by an experienced surgeon, even in young infants.In summary, a high degree of suspicion should prevail for an MD in an infant even at a very young age, who presents with painless rectal bleeding (very often maroon-colored with clots), without preceding intestinal symptoms, and with a hemoglobin of 8 gm/dl.AcknowledgmentsThe authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Ms Joelle Holland, and Ms Anna Penny in the preparation of this manuscript.DisclosureThe authors report no confl icts of interest in this work.References 1. St. Vil D, Brandt ML, Panic S, Bensoussan AL, Blanchard H. Meckel’s diver-ticulum in children: a 20-year review. J Ped Surg. 1991;26:1289–1292. 2. Irving IM. Umbilical abnormalities. In: Lister J, Irving IM, editors. Neonatal Surgery. London, UK: Butterworths and Co; 1990. p. 397.Table 1 Heterotopic tissue in symptomatic Meckel’s diverticulum (in infants and children)Authors % Gastric % Pancreatic % Gastric and pancreatic Other (uncommon)Rutherford and Akers8 97 NA NA Jejunal duodenalPellerin and colleagues10 79 3 NA Colonic (mentioned)Artigas and colleagues9 62 15 23Kusumoto and colleagues14 80–100 6 NASt.  Vil and colleagues1 88 7 3 Gastric and colonicVane and colleagues4 90 5Snyder15 65–85 5–16 NAPark and colleagues12 78 5 NA Colonic Abbreviation: NA, not available.Clinical and Experimental Gastroenterology 2009:240Poley et al 3. Dutro JA, Santanello SA, Unger F, Goodwin CD. Rectal bleeding in a 4 months old boy. JAMA. 1986;256:2239–2240. 4. Vane DW, West KW, Grosfeld JL. Vitelline duct anomalies. Experience with 217 childhood cases. Arch Surg. 1987;122:542–547. 5. Imaeda T, Kanematsu M, Sone Y, et al. A case of intermittent bleeding Meckel’s diverticulum. Ann Nucl Med. 1990;4:107–110. 6. Berman WF, Holtzapple PG. Gastro-intestinal hemorrhage. Pediatr Clin NA. 1975;23:885–895. 7. Brookes VS. Meckel’s diverticulum in children. A report of 43 cases. Br J Surg. 1954;42:57–68. 8. Rutherford RB, Akers DR. Meckel’s diverticulum: a review of 148 pediatric patients with special reference to the pattern of bleeding, and to meso-diverticular bands. Surgery. 1966;59:618–628. 9. Artigas V, Calabuig R, Badia F. Meckel’s diverticulum: value of ectopic tissue. Am J Surg. 1986;151:631–634.10. Pellerin D, Harouchi A, Delmas P. Le diverticule de Meckel, revue de 250 cas chez l’enfant. Ann Chir Infant. 1976;17:157–172.11. Brown RL, Azizkhan RG. Gastro-intestinal bleeding in infants and children: Meckel’s diverticulum and intestinal duplication. Semin Pediatr Surg. 1999;8:202–209.12. Park JJ, Wolff BG, Tollefson MK, et al. Meckel diverticulum. The Mayo Clinic experience with 1476 patients (1950–2002). Ann Surg. 2005;241:529–533.13. Lloyd DA. Omphalomesenteric duct remnants. In: Puri P, editor. Newborn Surgery. London, UK: Arnold; 2003. p. 615–617.14. Kusumoto H, Yoshida M, Takahashi I, Anai H, Maehara Y, Sugimachi K. Complications and diagnosis of Meckel’s diverticulum in 776 patients. Am J Surg. 1992;164:382–383.15. Snyder CL. Meckel’s diverticulum. In: Grosfeld JL, O’Neill JA, Coran AG, Fonkalsrud EW, editors. Pediatric Surgery. Philadelphia, PA: Mosby/Elsevier; 2003. p. 1304–1312.16. Moses WR. Meckel’s diverticulum, a report of two unusual cases. N Engl J Med. 1947;237:118–122.17. Diamond RH, Rothstein RD, Alavi A. The role of cimetidine-enhanced technetium-99m-pertechnetate imaging for visualizing Meckel’s diverticulum. J Nucl Med. 1991;32:1422–1424.18. Vinton NE. Gastrointestinal bleeding in infancy and childhood. Gastroenterol Clin NA. 1994;23:93–121.19. Swaniker F, Soldes O, Hirschi RB. The utility of technetium 99 m Pertechnetate scintigraphy in the evaluation of patients with Meckel’s diverticulum. J Ped Surg. 1999;34:760–765.20. Sfakianakis GN, Anderson GF, King DR, Boles ET. The effect of gastrointestinal hormones on the pertechnetate imaging of ectopic gastric mucosa in experimental Meckel’s diverticulum. J Nucl Med. 1981;22:678–683.21. Diamond RH, Rothstein RD, Alavi A. The role of cimetidine-enhanced technetium 99 m Pertechnetate imaging for visualizing Meckel’s diver-ticulum. J Nucl Med. 1991;32:1422–1424.22. Petrokubi RJ, Baum S, Rohrer GV. Cimetidine administration resulting in improved Pertechnetate imaging of Meckel’s diverticulum. Clin Nucl Med. 1978;3:385–388.23. Sfakianakis GN, Conway JJ. Detection of ectopic gastric mucosa in Meckel’s diverticulum and in other aberrations by scintigraphy;II. Indications and methods. A 10 year experience. J Nucl Med. 1981;22:732–738.24. Panuel M, Campan N, Delarue A, Petit P, Sarles J, Devred P. Ultraso-nographic diagnosis and laparoscopic surgical treatment of Meckel’s diverticulum. Eur J Pediatr Surg. 1994;4:344–345.25. Baldiserotto M, Maffazzoni DR, Dora MD. Sonographic fi ndings of Meckel’s diverticulitis in children. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2003;180:425–428.26. Clark JM, Koontz JS, Smith LA, Kelley JE. Video-assisted transumbili-cal diverticulectomy in children. Am Surg. 2008;74:327–329.27. Chan KW, Lee KH, Mou JW, Cheung ST, Tam YH. Laparoscopic management of complicated Meckel’s diverticulum in children: a 10- year review. Surg Endosc. 2008;22:1509–1512.

Bleeding Meckel’s Diverticulum in a 4-Month-Old Infant: Treatment with Laparoscopic Diverticulectomy. A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Meckel’s diverticulum in children: a 20-year review. J Ped Surg.

Umbilical abnormalities. In:

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Bleeding Meckel’s diverticulum in a 4-month-old infant: Treatment with laparoscopic diverticulectomy. A case report and review of the literature

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