Rupture of Meckel’s diverticulum after a blunt abdominal trauma: a case report

Abstract

Background: Meckel’s diverticulum is relatively rare in the general population. Generally, symptoms are extremely varied and prior diagnosis is difficult because of the abnormality being an occasional finding in laparotomies. This report describes the unusual possibility of diverticulum rupture, even after low-impact abdominal trauma. The case is unusual because of the low frequency of small bowel injury in abdominal contusions, except in trauma with high kinetic energy, such as high-speed car crashes, and the unexpected finding of a ruptured diverticulum. Usually, the lesions occur at relatively fixed structures, specifically in the angle of Treitz or ileocecal region, after undergoing stretching.Case presentation: A 32-year-old male patient presented at another service after incurring a trauma in a car crash about 5 hours earlier. He complained of abdominal pain of moderate intensity and intense thirst. Bruises were found on the mesogastric region. Ultrasonography and computed tomography suggested the presence of a small amount of free fluid in the cavity and pneumoperitoneum. Emergency exploratory laparotomy was performed because of the blood and faecal content in the peritoneal cavity. A single lesion, the contusion in Meckel’s diverticulum, was observed. Excision of the segment was performed with thorough washing of the cavity. Conclusion: Patients with Meckel’s diverticulum may be more susceptible to hollow viscus rupture and can be a finding in exploratory laparotomy.