Superior mesenteric artery compression syndrome - case report

CASE REPORT

Superior mesenteric artery compression syndrome - case report

Paulo Rocha França Neto^I; Rodrigo de Almeida Paiva^II; Antônio Lacerda Filho^III; Fábio Lopes de Queiroz^I; Teon Noronha^II

^IMaster in Medical Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG); Member of the Coloproctologic Clinic, Hospital Felício Rocho - Belo Horizonte (MG), Brazil

^IIMember of the Coloproctologic Clinic, Hospital Felício Rocho - Belo Horizonte (MG), Brazil

^IIIDoctor in Medical Sciences, UFMG; Member of the Coloproctologic Clinic, Hospital Felício Rocho - Belo Horizonte (MG), Brazil

^{Correspondence to}

ABSTRACT

Superior mesenteric artery syndrome is an entity generally caused by the loss of the intervening mesenteric fat pad, resulting in compression of the third portion of the duodenum by the superior mesenteric artery. This article reports the case of a patient with irremovable metastatic adenocarcinoma in the sigmoid colon, that evolved with intense vomiting. Intestinal transit was carried out, which showed important gastric dilation extended until the third portion of the duodenum, compatible with superior mesenteric artery syndrome. Considering the patient's nutritional condition, the medical team opted for the conservative treatment. Four months after the surgery and conservative measures, the patient did not present vomiting after eating, maintaining previous weight. Superior mesenteric artery syndrome is uncommon and can have unspecific symptoms. Thus, high suspicion is required for the appropriate clinical adjustment. A barium examination is required to make the diagnosis. The treatment can initially require gastric decompression and hydration, besides reversal of weight loss through adequate nutrition. Surgery should be adopted only in case of clinical treatment failure.

Keywords: superior mesenteric artery syndrome; diagnosis; abdominal pain; duodenum, radiography.

RESUMO

A síndrome da artéria mesentérica superior é uma entidade clínica causada geralmente pela perda do tecido adiposo mesentérico, resultando na compressão da terceira porção do duodeno pela artéria mesentérica superior. Esse artigo relata o caso clínico de uma paciente portadora de adenocarcinoma de cólon sigmoide metastático irressecável, que evoluiu com vômitos incoercíveis. Realizou-se, então, trânsito intestinal que evidenciou dilatação gástrica importante, que se prolongava até a terceira porção duodenal, quadro radiológico compatível com pinçamento da artéria mesentérica superior. Diante da condição nutricional da paciente, foi optado por iniciar medidas conservadoras (porções alimentares pequenas e mais frequentes, além de decúbito lateral esquerdo após as refeições). Quatro meses após a cirurgia e as medidas conservadoras, a paciente não apresentava mais vômitos pós-prandiais, nem emagrecimento. A síndrome da artéria mesentérica inferior é incomum e os sintomas podem ser inespecíficos. Sendo assim, um índice elevado de suspeita é exigido no ajuste clínico apropriado. O diagnóstico é feito, habitualmente, através de exame radiológico contrastado. O tratamento pode, inicialmente, exigir a descompressão gástrica e a reposição volêmica, além da reversão da perda de peso com nutrição adequada. A cirurgia deve ser reservada para os casos de falha do tratamento clínico.

Palavras-chave: síndrome da artéria mesentérica superior; diagnóstico; dor abdominal; duodeno; radiografia.

INTRODUCTION

The superior mesenteric artery syndrome was described for the first time by Von Rokitansky in 1861¹, and later studied by Wiekie², who detailed most clinical findings in early 20^th century. It is a rare entity, caused by compression of the third portion of the duodenum by the superior mesenteric artery, resulting in an obstruction in this segment. This article reports a case of this disease in a patient that presented fast weight loss due to colon neoplasm.

CLINICAL CASE

A 40-year-old female patient, previously healthy, for six months with intestinal constipation and evacuation discomfort. Her weight was 35 kg at the first appointment and she also reported frequent vomiting. In addition, she reported considerable weight loss of 30 kg in 6 months.

Clinical examination

The patient was very thin, without abdominal distention and with palpable mass in the left iliac fossa.

Colonoscopy

Colonoscopy was performed reaching the sigmoid, where the equipment light was narrowed, blocking the equipment progression. Biopsies of the region showed normal colonic mucosa.

Abdomen and pelvis tomography

Tomography was suggestive of hepatic metastasis, pyelocalyceal dilation and suspicion of iliac vessel invasion.

Thorax tomography

This tomography was suggestive of bilateral pulmonary metastases.

Treatment performed

Exploratory laparotomy was performed, which showed ascites, irremovable hepatic metastases, peritoneal implants and voluminous tumoral lesion in the sigmoid, with invasion of ureter and iliac vessels in their left portion. Biopsy of implants and loop colostomy in transverse colon were performed.

Two days after the surgery and with restart of oral food intake, the patient started to present frequent vomiting, but reporting significant improvement in general. Her abdomen remained flat, raising the suspcion of proximal obstruction or gastroparesis. Intestinal transit was carried out (Figures 1, 2 and 3), which showed important gastric dilation until the third portion of the duodenum, compatible with superior mesenteric artery syndrome. Considering the patient's nutritional condition, the medical team opted for conservative measures (small food portions in more frequent intakes and left lateral decubitus position after meals).

Four months after the surgery and conservative measures, the patient did not present vomiting anymore, with considerable weight gain of 8 kg.

DISCUSSION

Retroperitoneal fat tends to keep the mesenteric root and the superior mesenteric artery far from the aorta. The angle between the two arteries varies from 25 to 60° in normal individuals and the radiographic distance between them ranges from 10 to 28 mm^3-5. The reduction in angle to 6-16° and in the aortomesenteric distance to 2-8 mm causes duodenal obstruction. Around two thirds of patients with this syndrome are female, 75% between 10 and 39 years of age. In general population, the estimated prevalence ranges from 0.013 to 0.3%^6-8.

The main causes of this syndrome are severe cranioencephalic trauma, long period in dorsal decubitus position on bed, immobilization in hyperextension device, considerable weight loss accentuated by consumptive disease, eating disorders, among others. The main symptoms are: intermittent post-prandial epigastric abdominal pain (59 to 81% of the cases), which is relieved when changing the position, as well as vomiting, nauseas and anorexia^6,9. This condition makes food intake impossible, leading to worsened clinical conditions.

The post-operative confirmation diagnosis is difficult; but, once the suspicion exists, a contrast study of the duodenum can provide a number of signs compatible with superior mesenteric artery syndrome, including: dilation of the first and second portions of the duodenum; compression of duodenal arc, with difficult or interrupted transit of contrast medium; stasis of the contrast medium at the gastrointestinal level for more than four hours; obstruction disappears when changing to left lateral decubitus or ventral position^10-12. In some patients, computed tomography of abdomen is required, which can show the duodenal obstruction and its relation with aorta and superior mesenteric artery. More invasive exams, such as arteriography and angioresonance, are not indicated when contrast radiography does not suggest the diagnosis^13-15. The differential diagnosis of superior mesenteric artery syndrome includes other causes of small bowel obstruction, as well as diseases associated with duodenal dysmotility (megaduodenum), including diabetes, collagen diseases, scleroderma and chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction¹⁶.

The clinical treatment is initially indicated, which consists in the introduction of a nasogastric probe for stomach decompression, correction of hydroelectrolytic disorders and acid-base balance. If possible, small amounts of food and in short intervals should be adopted, as well as change to left lateral decubitus position. In more severe cases, total parenteral nutrition may be necessary. When these measures are successful, the need for a surgical treatment may be reduced from 70 to 14%¹⁷.

The surgical treatment is recommended in case of clinical treatment failure, in symptomatic patients. It consists in duodenojejunostomy in most cases, with 80% success rate^18,19. Lee et al.²⁰ concluded that duodenojejunostomy presented better results in severe cases, when compared to gastrojejunostomy and Strong's operation (division of the ligament of Treitz).

CONCLUSION

The superior mesenteric artery syndrome is a rare entity that does not enable proper food intake. The post-operative confirmation diagnosis is difficult; but, once the suspicion exists, a contrast study of the duodenum can provide a number of signs compatible with superior mesenteric artery syndrome. In some patients, computed tomography of abdomen is required to confirm the diagnosis. The clinical treatment is initially indicated, as it was successfully performed in the studied patient. The surgical treatment is recommended in case of clinical treatment failure, in symptomatic patients.

Submitted on: 07/22/2009

Approved on: 09/01/2009

Financing source: Coloproctologic Clinic, Hospital Felício Rocho.

Conflict of interest: nothing to declare.

Study carried out at the Clínica de Coloproctologia do Hospital Felício Rocho - Belo Horizonte (MG), Brazil.

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• ¹⁶
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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  07 May 2012
• Date of issue
  Dec 2011

History

• Received
  22 July 2009
• Accepted
  09 Jan 2009