Retrograde intussusception as a rare complication of giant Meckel's diverticulum in a six-year-old male patient with intestinal obstruction: A case report

Abstract

Introduction and importance

Intussusception is a common surgical emergency in pediatric populations; however, its association with giant Meckel's diverticulum is exceedingly rare. This case report describes a unique presentation of retrograde ileo-ileal intussusception occurring in conjunction with a giant Meckel's diverticulum in a six-year-old boy.

Case presentation

A six-year-old male presented with signs of intestinal obstruction. Abdominal ultrasound revealed classic target signs, and the patient was taken for emergency laparotomy. Intraoperatively, a retrograde ileo-ileal intussusception into a giant Meckel's diverticulum was discovered, necessitating resection and end-to-end ileo-ileal anastomosis.

Clinical discussion

The case underscores the diagnostic challenges associated with retrograde intussusception. In the discussion, a comparison is made with a similar report describing Meckel's diverticulum associated with internal hernia and volvulus (Al-Salem et al., 2021), emphasizing the spectrum of complications related to Meckel's diverticulum. This comparison highlights the novelty of our case in the context of pediatric intestinal emergencies.

Conclusion

This report highlights the need for a high index of suspicion in pediatric patients with intestinal obstruction and emphasizes that retrograde intussusception complicating giant Meckel's diverticulum, although rare, should be considered in the differential diagnosis.