Perforation of Meckel diverticulum presenting with acute appendicitis

Meckel diverticulum is the most common congenital structural abnormality of the gastrointestinal tract. In 1809, Johann Friedrich Meckel first described its embryological origin. Between 2% and 4% of people may have Meckel diverticulum and 4-6% of them suffer from complications [1]. Meckel diverticulitis is usually confused with acute appendicitis and perforation with peptic ulcer perforation. We report a case which was clinically diagnosed as acute appendicitis which turned out to be perforation of a Meckel diverticulum, with inflammation of the appendix. This diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma of the case gives us an opportunity to report it as a case of interest. The Sri Lanka Journal of Surgery 2014; 32(4): 28-29