PERSISTENT DUCTUS OMPHALOMESENTERICUS WITH SECONDARY ILEOSIGMOIDOSTOMY AND TERMINAL PERITONITIS

Persistent ductus omphalomesentericus is of infrequent occurrence. In 1812, Meckel¹ described the involution of the ductus omphalomesentericus resulting in a persistent diverticulum. Since that time Cullen² has reviewed the literature concerning the irregularities of the involution of preumbilical structures. He reported forty-six cases of patent ductus omphalomesentericus. Most of these were observed at birth, though two cases were recognized when the patients were 16 and 28 years of age. Operations for the repair of the conditions were done in nineteen cases, resulting in fourteen recoveries and five deaths. Since that time, a number of similar or related anomalies of the umbilical cord have been recorded. Garratt³ reported the persistence of vitelline ducts in twins. Other reports concerning persistent ductus omphalomesentericus have been made by O'Neil,⁴ Barron,⁵ Parker,⁶ Guthrie,⁷ Dietsen⁸ and others. In all there have been published eighteen instances of the type