Superior mesenteric artery syndrome ? case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Acute vascular compression of the duodenum is a rare cause of duodenal obstruction in children. An 11-year-old girl presented with acute symptoms of upper gastrointestinal obstruction with no antecedent cause. Radiological investigations revealed it to be complete duodenal obstruction. At laparotomy the obstruction was found to be due to extrinsic compression of the third part of the duodenum by the superior mesenteric artery. A duodenoiejunostomy was performed, which resulted in relief of the obstructive symptoms; the patient showed satisfactory weight gain in the postoperative period.