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Meckel diverticulectomy

Meckel diverticulectomy; Meckel diverticulum - surgery; Meckel diverticulum - repair; GI bleeding - Meckel diverticulectomy; Gastrointestinal bleeding - Meckel diverticulectomy

Meckel diverticulectomy is surgery to remove an abnormal pouch of the lining of the small intestine (bowel). This pouch is called a Meckel diverticulum.


Meckel's diverticulectomy - normal anatomy

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You will receive general anesthesia before surgery. This will make you sleep and unable to feel pain.

If you have open surgery:

Surgeons can also do this surgery using a laparoscope. The laparoscope is an instrument that looks like a small telescope with a light and a video camera. It is inserted into your belly through a small cut. Video from the camera appears on a monitor in the operating room. This allows the surgeon to view inside your belly during surgery.

In surgery using a laparoscope:

Why the Procedure Is Performed

Treatment is needed to prevent:

The most common symptom of Meckel diverticulum is painless bleeding from the rectum. Your stool may contain fresh blood or look black and tarry.


Risks for anesthesia and surgery in general are:

Risks for this surgery are:

Before the Procedure

Tell your surgeon:

During the days before your surgery:

On the day of your surgery:

After the Procedure

Most people stay in the hospital for 1 to 7 days depending on how extensive the surgery was. During this time, the health care providers will carefully monitor you.

Treatment may include:

You will also be given fluids and nutrition through a vein (IV) until your provider feels you are ready to start drinking or eating. This could be as soon as the day after surgery.

You will need to follow-up with your surgeon in a week or two after surgery.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Most people who have this surgery have a good outcome. But the results of any surgery depend on your overall health. Talk with your doctor about your expected outcome.

Related Information

Meckel diverticulum
Surgical wound care - open


Harris JW, Evers BM. Small intestine. In: Townsend CM Jr, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 20th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 49.

Hartney M, Zoumberos MS, Fabri PJ. The management of diverticulosis of the small bowel. In: Cameron JL, Cameron AM, eds. Current Surgical Therapy. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:128-130.


Review Date: 9/3/2018  


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