Bleeding Meckel's Diverticulum: Update Course 2015

PPI therapy will stop bleeding from a Meckel's diverticulum.

Bleeding Meckel's diverticulum should never be an emergency operation.

After stapling off a Meckel's diverticulum, the bleeding ulcer is still present and the patient may continue bleeding for the next day.

Removing the Meckel's diverticulum eliminates the source of acid causing the ulcer, analogous to performing vagotomy for duodenal ulcer.

The bleeding ulcer is almost always at the tip of the Meckel's diverticulum.

When stapling a Meckel's diverticulum laparoscopically, pulling it up to staple creates a tendency to encroach onto the bowel.

Pulling a Meckel's diverticulum out through the umbilicus and marking the resection line without tension prevents distortion of anatomy.

With a linear staple line across a Meckel's base, slight impingement on the bowel does not matter because the bowel will dilate out, unless a huge stricture is created.