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Abdominal Pain and Vomiting in a 2-Year-Old Boy: A Case of Intussusception and Perforated Meckel’s Diverticulum

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Meckel's diverticulum is a congenital anomaly that can lead to complications such as gastrointestinal bleeding, intussusception, and perforation. We present a case of a healthy 2-year-old boy who initially presented with abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea, which was misdiagnosed as acute gastritis. Despite symptomatic treatment, his condition worsened with the development of intermittent abdominal pain and non-bloody diarrhea. Initial imaging, including abdominal X-ray and ultrasound, did not reveal significant findings, and the patient was discharged after rehydration. However, he returned to the hospital with worsening pain and new reddish-brown stool, prompting further evaluation. A targeted ultrasound revealed ileo-ileal intussusception, and surgical exploration confirmed a perforated Meckel's diverticulum. Histopathology confirmed acute Meckel's diverticulitis with serosal inflammation and perforation. This case underscores the rarity of complications from Meckel's diverticulum, which typically presents with painless bloody stool, but in this patient, led to both intussusception and perforation.

Source: Journal of Brown Hospital Medicine

DOI: 10.56305/001c.129038

Authors: Sara Bowman, Matthew Wysong, Sarah Marzec

Institution: Nationwide Children's Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Gastrointestinal disorders and treatments

Subfield: Surgery

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

OpenAlex ID: W4409068942