Incarceration of Meckel’s diverticulum through a ventral incisional defect: a rare presentation of Littre’s hernia

Abstract

Meckel’s diverticulum is the most common congenital abnormality of the gastrointestinal tract and is the result of the incomplete obliteration of the omphalomesenteric duct. Herniation of Meckel’s diverticulum is called Littre’s hernia and is a rare occurrence. Herein is described an extremely rare case of incarcerated and strangulated Meckel’s diverticulum through an incisional ventral defect in a 59-year-old female patient, who presented with manifestations of acute surgical abdomen. At emergency laparotomy, a strangulated small-bowel loop containing a Meckel’s diverticulum was found, which had migrated through the subcutaneous tissues to the right iliac fossa, where a painful mass was palpated on admission. Segmental resection of the ischemic ileum was performed and the abdomen was closed without the use of a prosthetic mesh. Histopathological findings were suggestive of a true diverticulum containing heterotopic gastric mucosa.