Meckel's diverticulectomy is surgery to remove an abnormal pouch. This pouch is called a Meckel's diverticulum. It forms in the wall of the small intestine.

You will receive general anesthesia before surgery. This will make you unconscious and unable to feel pain.

• If you have open surgery, your surgeon will make a large incision (cut) in the right side of your lower belly to open up the area.
• Your surgeon will open your small intestine in the area where the pouch or diverticulum is.
• Your surgeon will remove the diverticulum from the wall of your intestine.
• Sometimes, the surgeon may need to remove a small part of your intestine along with the diverticulum. If this is done, the open ends of your intestine will be sewn or stapled back together. This procedure is called anastomosis.

Surgeons can also do this surgery using a laparoscope. A laparoscope is a tiny camera that is inserted into your belly through a small cut. Video from the camera will appear on a monitor in the operating room. The surgeon uses the monitor to do the surgery. In surgery using a laparoscope:

• Your surgeon will make 3 to 5 small incisions in your belly. The camera and other small tools will be inserted through these incisions.
• Your surgeon may also make an incision that is 2 to 3 inches long to put a hand through, if needed.
• Your belly will be filled with gas to open up the area. This gives the surgeon room to work.

Treatment of Meckel’s diverticulum is needed to prevent inflammation, bleeding, infection, or bowel obstruction (a blockage in your intestine). The most common symptom of Meckel's diverticulum is painless bleeding from the rectum. Your stool may contain fresh blood or look black and tarry.

Most people have surgery to treat a Meckel’s diverticulum if it causes symptoms.

Evers BM. Small intestine. In: Townsend CM, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:chap 48.