Meckel’s Diverticulum as an Unexpected Cause of Acute Intestinal Obstruction in an Adult

Meckel’s diverticulum is a congenital anomaly that often remains silent and is found incidentally. In adults, it may present with complications such as bowel obstruction or inflammation, sometimes precipitated by intussusception or volvulus. Imaging can raise suspicion of related complications, but confirmation frequently occurs at surgery. Operative management is recommended when complications are present, whereas prophylactic removal of incidentally discovered lesions remains a subject of debate. We present a case of a 56-year-old male with no significant medical history who presented with abdominal pain, cessation of bowel movements and gas, and episodes of vomiting. Initial examination revealed a stable patient with mild abdominal tenderness. Abdominal X-ray and CT scan demonstrated signs of mechanical small bowel obstruction. The obstruction was caused by a Meckel’s diverticulum, identified during surgery and treated with resection of the affected small intestinal segment. The patient had an uneventful recovery. This case highlights the importance of considering Meckel’s diverticulum in the differential diagnosis of small bowel obstruction, even in adults. This case report aimed to emphasize that Meckel’s diverticulum, although usually asymptomatic and rarely suspected in adults, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute small bowel obstruction, especially when no common obstructive cause is identified on imaging.