An unusual complication of umbilical catheterisation.
An unusual complication of umbilical catheterisation.
We report the first case of perforated Meckel\’s diverticulum in a 1-day-old pre-term infant as a consequence of umbilical vein catheterisation. The clinical course consisted of abdominal distension and pneumoperitoneum that occurred after 12 h of life. Perforated Meckel\’s diverticulum was found at laparotomy. Neither inflammatory phenomena nor ectopic mucosa were found at microscopical examination. Perforation of the diverticulum was a complication of umbilical catheter insertion through a narrow lumen in the umbilical cord mistaken for an umbilical vein and connected to Meckel\’s diverticulum through a very short fibrous band. A search of the literature did not reveal any similar cases.
Costa S, De Carolis MP, Savarese I, Manzoni C, Lacerenza S, Romagnoli C.
Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Largo A. Gemelli, 8, 00168, Rome, Italy, simocosta@yahoo.it.