Clinical case of successful treatment of a patient with superior mesenteric artery syndrome
Abstract
Superior mesenteric artery syndrome (SMAS, Wilkie’s syndrome) is a rare, but potentially life-threatening cause of duodenal obstruction that results from a narrowing of the aortomesenteric angle and compression of the third portion of the duodenum between the aorta and the superior mesenteric artery. The condition is characterized by non-specific clinical symptoms, which often lead to misdiagnosis and delayed treatment. This article presents a case of a 37-year-old woman with a severe course of SMAS who had been under long-term observation for suspected gastrointestinal pathology. The diagnosis was confirmed via CT angiography. Following a phase of nutritional and metabolic correction, the patient underwent Strong’s procedure with subtotal gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y reconstruction. Surgical treatment led to a sustained clinical and metabolic remission and recovery of the patient’s nutritional status. This case highlights the importance of early diagnosis of rare causes of duodenal stasis in patients with persistent weight loss and postprandial vomiting.
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