Meckel’s diverticulum is a small, hollow, wide-mouthed pouch that protrudes from the last part of the small intestine. The pouch is present at birth.
It often causes no problems and does not need treatment.
Symptoms only occur if the pouch becomes obstructed, inflamed, or twisted. The most common symptom is painless bleeding from the rectum.
This bleeding may be sudden and severe; it requires treatment with an immediate blood transfusion.
Inflammation may cause pain in the lower abdomen. Occasionally, the diverticulum results in telescoping (intussusception) or twisting (volvulus) of the small intestine.
Inflammation, intussusception, and volvulus are treated by surgical removal of the affected part of the intestine.