Meckel's diverticulum is rare malformation, and in most of the suspectis has no symptoms. In complicated cases, the symptoms are not specific, what makes difficult the preoperative diagnosis. The rarity of this condition as well difficulties in diagnosis and controversies in treatment let us review and analyse records of 18 patients with Meckel 's diverticulum operated at Hospital Regional of Sobradinho in a ten year period (1985-1995). The review showed that all 18 patients underwent surgical procedure without preoperative diagnosis of Meckel's diverticulum. In nine patients the MD were found in the course of operation for some other lesion and remaining had others preoperative diagnosis due of complications of a existing MD. Although there is no compelling evidence to support the opinion that an asymptomatic Meckel's diverticulum constitutes a major threat to the future well-being of a patient, it is apparent that incidental removal is associated with minimal risk of complications. Controversies in this subject, such medicolegal implications, literature review and the findings in this series let us to decide for the removal of the diverticulum If patientes conditions is satisfactory and elect the enterectomy with end to end anastomosis is the most adequate technique for both incidental findings and sintomatic diverticulum.
Meckel's diverticulum; Intestinal diverticulum; True diverticulum