The Pulse | Friday, December 7, 2018

Word of the Week: Meckel’s Diverticulum

For this week’s Word of the Week, we are highlighting “Meckel’s Diverticulum.” As always, all of the terms and definitions are sourced from our very own SGNA GI/Endoscopy Nursing Review Course Certification Study Manual, 3rd Edition (2016).

Meckel’s Diverticulum: A congenital anomaly of GI tract causing an out pouching of the ileum.

• Symptoms
  • May be asymptomatic
  • Painless rectal bleed
  • Abdominal pain
  • Bilious/feculent vomiting
  • Anemia
  • Shock
  • 24-40% with intestinal obstruction due to volvulus or intussusception
• Treatment
  • Diverticulectomy
• Origin
  • Meckel's diverticulum was first explained by Fabricius Hildanus in the 16^th century and later named after Johann Friedrich Meckel, who described the embryological origin of this type of diverticulum in 1809.