Meckel's Diverticulum

* Is the most common congenital abnormality of the GI tract (found in about 2% of the population)
* Is a vestigial remnant of the vitelline duct
* Is remembered with the “rule of 2's”

2% of the population
2 feet from the ileocecal valve (the most common location)
2 inches in length
2% are symptomatic
2 types of ectopic tissue are contained within them (gastric >>> pancreatic)
2 years old is the most common age for presentation
2 times more boys affected than girls

* When children present they typically present with painless rectal bleeding
* Adults can also present with bleeding, although are more likely to be associated with pain
* Patients can also present with intussussception, bowel obstruction and diverticulitis
* The best way to diagnose this is with a technetium-99 scan which detects the ectopic gastric mucosa that is present in up to 85% of these

Ref: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10706156?dopt=Abstract