Meckel's diverticulum
Executive Summary Meckel's diverticulum is the most common congenital anomaly of the gastrointestinal tract, arising from the incomplete obliteration of the vitelline (omphalomesenteric) duct during embryonic development. While present in approximately 2% of the population, it remains clinically silent in the majority of cases. Only 4% to 6% of individuals with the anomaly will develop symptoms over their lifetime. The classic description is summarized by the "Rule of Twos": occurring in 2% of the population, with a 2:1 male-to-female ratio, located approximately two feet from the ileocecal valve, and measuring about two inches in length. Complications, when they occur, typically manifest before the age of two. The primary clinical presentations are gastrointestinal bleeding and acute abdominal symptoms. Bleeding, the most common complication in children, is typically painless and results from acid secretion by ectopic gastric mucosa within the diverticulum, leading to ...