Laparoscopic management of celiac artery compression syndrome: A case report

Another Sherlock Holmes Mystery: Abdominal Pain Explained by Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome

Median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS), also known as celiac artery compression syndrome, is a rare gastrointestinal condition with an estimated incidence of 2 per 100 000 population. Predominantly in female patients, this syndrome is characterized by the compression of the celiac artery at its origin from the aorta by the median arcuate ligament, which at the same time is entrapping the celiac plexus, causing upper abdominal pain, notably postprandial pain, as well as nausea, vomiting, food aversion, and weight loss. We present a case of abdominal pain secondary to MALS that was appropriately diagnosed after requiring narcotic medication, which responded to surgical therapy.

A man with the rare simultaneous combination of three abdominal vascular compression syndromes: median arcuate ligament syndrome, superior mesenteric artery syndrome, and nutcracker syndrome

Median arcuate ligament syndrome and superior mesenteric artery syndrome are well-known abdominal compression syndromes, the coexistence of which is rarely described in literature. In addition, due to the common pathogenesis, anterior nutcracker syndrome may occur simultaneously to superior mesenteric artery syndrome. To our knowledge, this is the first case reporting combination of these 3 syndromes detected with ultrasound, Computed Tomography and upper gastrointestinal fluoroscopic exam. A 69-year-old man came to our attention for rapid weight loss, postprandial epigastric pain and recurrent vomiting for at least 6 months. Doppler ultrasound showed both celiac artery and left renal vein stenosis with simultaneous left varicocele. Computed tomography showed a reduction of aortomesenteric space causing both left renal vein and duodenal stenosis, this latter confirmed by upper gastrointestinal fluoroscopic exam. The diagnosis of these three vascular compression syndromes (MALS, SMAS, and anterior NCS) has been formulated, based on clinical and imaging findings. We assumed that the postprandial crises caused by median arcuate ligament syndrome may induce a reduction of meals consumption and progressive weight loss which can be a cause of anterior nutcracker syndrome and superior mesenteric artery syndrome onset. Doppler ultrasound, in expert hands, allows to accurately diagnosing these syndromes which are often underestimated. Failure to recognize it and inadequate treatment could have serious consequences for patients' health.

Clinico-pathologic findings in patients with median arcuate ligament syndrome (celiac artery compression syndrome)

Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome (MALS) is a rare entity characterized by severe post-prandial epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, and/or weight loss. Symptoms have been attributed to vascular compression (celiac artery compression syndrome, CACS), but it remains controversial whether they could be secondary to neural compression. Literature review identified rare description of pathologic findings in surgery journals. The clinico-pathologic findings of four MALS patients who underwent robotic or laparoscopic surgery in our hospital are described. All our patients were female with a median age of 32.5 (range 25-55 years), and a median BMI of 23.5 kg/m². They presented with chronic often post-prandial abdominal pain (4/4), nausea (3/4), emesis (2/4), anorexia (1/4), and weight loss (1/4). Two patients had a history of Crohn's disease. At intraoperative exploration, the celiac artery and adjacent nerves and ganglia were encased and partially compressed by fibrotic tissue in each patient. In each case laparoscopic excision of fibrotic tissue, celiac plexus and ligament division and was performed; celiac plexus nerve block was also performed in one patient. After surgical intervention, symptoms improved in three of the patients whose specimens show periganglionic and perineural fibrosis with proliferation of small nerve fibers. Our findings support neurogenic compression as a contributing factor in the development of pain and other MALS symptoms, and favor the use of MALS rather than CACS as diagnostic terminology. To further study the pathogenesis of this unusual syndrome, surgeons should submit all tissues excised during MALS procedures for histopathologic examination.