Meckel’s Diverticulum Causing Small Bowel Intussusception in Third Trimester Pregnancy, a Case Report

Intestinal obstruction complicating pregnancy is a surgical emergency associated with a high incidence of morbidity and mortality for both the mother and fetus. This case report discusses the presentation and treatment of a young female in her third trimester of pregnancy at a repeat visit to the emergency department (ED) with right-sided abdominal pain. She was diagnosed with ileal intussusception secondary to a Meckel’s diverticulum with associated small bowel obstruction (SBO) seen on computerized tomography (CT) imaging. She underwent surgical reduction of the invaginated bowel and diverticulectomy. Making a diagnosis of intestinal intussusception during pregnancy is particularly difficult because common symptoms of intestinal obstruction such as anorexia, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain are encountered frequently during a normal pregnancy.1 Diagnosis is often delayed during pregnancy due to physician hesitancy over the radiation risk to the fetus. While the gold standard for diagnosis is a barium enema, it is often identified on CT scan in adults, and it is regularly managed with surgery.2 TOPICS: Intussusception, small bowel obstruction, pregnancy, Meckel’s diverticulum.