An unusual association: median arcuate ligament syndrome and nutcracker syndrome

Aortomesenteric clamp: association with Wilkie syndrome and nutcracker syndrome

A 67-year-old female was referred due to epigastric pain, vomiting and weight loss of 6 kg in the past months. Blood tests were performed showing hematuria. An abdominal Doppler ultrasound did not show anything abnormal. Thus, an abdominal computed tomography (CT) angiography and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) enterography were performed, objectifying an aortomesenteric angle of 10.8° (reference range 38-56°), which caused a complete collapse of the left renal vein ("nutcracker phenomenon") and duodenal compression with retrograde dilatation ("Wilkie syndrome"). Conservative measures and nutritional support were adopted during hospitalization. She was discharged due to a good tolerance to an oral diet, the absence of symptoms and a good contrast pass in the esophagogastroduodenal transit.

Co-occurrence of compression syndromes: celiac axis stenosis, superior mesenteric artery and nutcracker syndrome

Moreno Márquez et al. report an association between arcuate ligament syndrome (ALS) and the "nutcracker" phenomenon (compression of the left renal vein). The case illustrates the association between several syndromes, which all involve compression of vascular or gastrointestinal structures: arcuate ligament syndrome, superior mesenteric artery syndrome (SMAS) or Wilkie's syndrome, the "nutcracker" syndrome and May-Thurner syndrome (compression of the left iliac vein).

Minimally Invasive Surgical Approach for the Treatment of Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome: Long-Term Outcomes

BACKGROUND

Latero-lateral duodenojejunostomy is the treatment of choice for superior mesenteric artery syndrome (SMAS). The present study analyzes the long-term outcomes in 13 patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for SMAS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective study of 10 females and three males undergoing surgery between 2001 and 2013 was performed. Demographic, clinical and radiologic data and long-term surgical outcomes were recorded. In 12 patients latero-lateral duodenojejunostomy and in one patient distal laparoscopic gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction were performed. The median age was 24 years (20-28), and the median duration of symptoms was 24 months (5-24). The most frequent symptoms were abdominal pain (n = 11; 92.3%), nausea and vomiting (n = 10; 77%) and weight loss (n = 9; 69.2%). The median operating time was 98 min (86-138) and hospital stay was 3 days (1-14).

RESULTS

No reconversions occurred, and one patient experienced gastric emptying delay in the immediate postoperative period with spontaneous resolution. In four patients, SMAS was associated with severe stenosis of the celiac trunk which was treated in the same operation, and four patients presented stenosis of the left renal vein (the "nutcracker" phenomenon). With a median follow-up of 94 months (SD 65.3), eight patients (61.5%) had excellent results. One patient had a relapse of symptoms 4 years after surgery requiring distal gastrectomy, two patients presented delay in gastric emptying following temporary improvement and one patient experienced no improvement.

CONCLUSIONS

Latero-lateral duodenojejunostomy yields good results in SMAS although it requires other gastric motility disorders to be ruled out for appropriate treatment to be established.

Aneurysm of the hepatic artery caused by median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS)

We present the case of a 74-year-old man, with a history of residual schizophrenia, who underwent abdominal-pelvic CT with intravenous contrast, due to abdominal acute pain, that showed a stenosis at the origin of the celiac trunk and a large aneurysm of the hepatic artery, secondary to a mediam arcuate ligament syndrome, of the diaphragm was observed.