Laparoscopy diagnosis and treatment excision of bleeding Meckel's diverticulum in a child: Report of one case

Meckel's diverticulum is a common cause of low gastrointestinal bleeding in childhood. Conventional diagnostic methods including plain abdominal radiographs, abdominal ultrasound, technectium 99^m pertechnetate scintigraphy, angiography, and exploratory laparotomy have several limitations. Here, we report that a case of Meckel's diverticulum in a 1-year-7-month-old boy presenting with intermittent episodes of painless low gastrointestinal bleeding for about one year. Despite the traditional studies, including plain abdominal films, abdominal ultrasound, rectosigmoidoscopy and repeated Tc-99^m Meckel's scan, all showed negative finding, it was successfully diagnosed along with excision of Meckel's diverticulum by laparoscopy. The patient made a rapid recovery and discharged at 48 hours after the procedure. We emphasize that laparoscopy should be an alternative diagnostic and therapeutic modality of choice in patients suspected of Meckel's diverticulum, especially in pediatric patients who had negative results of all other work-ups.