Haemorrhage
Bleeding of the diverticulum is most common in young children, especially in males who are less than 2 years of age. Symptoms may include bright red blood in stools(hematochezia), weakness, abdominal tenderness or pain, and even anaemia in some cases.
Haemorrhage may be caused by:
- Ectopic gastric or pancreatic mucosa
- Where diverticulum contains embryonic remnants of mucosa of other tissue types.
- Secretion of gastric acid or alkaline pancreatic fluid from the ectopic mucosa leads to ulceration in the adjacent ileal mucosa i.e. peptic or pancreatic ulcer (Figure 1.9).
- Pain, bleeding or perforation of the bowel at the diverticulum may result.
- Mechanical stimulation may also cause erosion and ulceration.
- Gastrointestinal bleeding may be self-limiting but chronic bleeding may lead to iron deficiency anaemia.
The appearance of stools may indicate the nature of haemorrhage:
- Tarry stools: Alteration of blood produced by slow bowel transit due to minor bleeding in upper gastrointestinal tract
- Bright red blood stools: Brisk haemorrhage
- Stools with blood streak: Anal fissure
- Currant jelly stools: Ischaemia of the intestine leads to copiod mucus production, may indicate that one part of the bowel invaginates into another (intussusception)
Read more about this topic: Meckel's Diverticulum, Complications of Meckel's Diverticulum, Pathophysiology of Complications