Dr Bogarapu Chaithanya Babu, Dr Gandeti Kiran Kumar, Dr Pratha Anantha Ramani, Dr Ravipalli Sasidhar
Background: Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome is a rare cause of small bowel obstruction due to extrinsic compression of the duodenum. This study aimed to evaluate the presentation, surgical management, and outcomes of seven patients with SMA syndrome treated at two tertiary care centers in India between June 2015 and January 2023.All patients presented with chronic vomiting, nausea, epigastric pain, and weight loss. Diagnosis was confirmed by radiological findings, including CT scans demonstrating a narrowed aortomesenteric angle (<22 degrees) and dilated proximal duodenum. Surgical intervention was the mainstay of treatment due to minimal success with non-operative management. All patients except one underwent laparoscopic duodenojejunostomy. One patient with a post-operative stricture required conversion to a Roux-en-Y duodenojejunostomy.
Methods: We have managed seven cases of duodenal obstruction due to SMA syndrome during the time period of June 2015 to January 2023. The study included cases pooled from two tertiary care centers of Andhra Pradesh. The primary evaluation was done by gastroenterologists, psychologists and followed by detailed surgical evaluation. Ultrasonography and upper endoscopy were done for all cases followed by CT scan of the abdomen in all the cases. All the patients had clinical and radiological findings consistent with SMA syndrome. Data collected included patient demographics, clinical presentation, operative data, and outcomes. Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation for continuous variables and as percentages for categorical variables.
Results: The seven patients included 5females and 2 males (female to male ratio was 2.5:1). The mean age of the cases was 21.29 ± 4.15 years (range 13 – 26 years). The Comorbidities identified in these cases included Psychiatric/anxiety (14.29%), anorexia (28.57%), Pancreatitis (14.29%), Mild scoliosis (14.29%), Binge/fasting (14.29%). No clear reason was identified in one case (14.29%) and attributed to fibromyalgia. One patient had previous laparoscopic appendicectomy, but no other patient had any history of abdominal or spinal surgery.