What is superior mesenteric artery syndrome

Some female friends with slender figures may feel a lump in their abdomen. When they go for a check-up, they find that it is superior mesenteric artery syndrome. What is superior mesenteric artery syndrome? Patients with superior mesenteric artery syndrome lose weight easily and vomit frequently. Sometimes they also feel abdominal distension and pain after eating.

Superior mesentery artery syndrome, also known as benign duodenal stasis, is a chronic intestinal obstruction of the duodenum caused by intermittent attacks of the superior mesentery artery or its branches compressing the horizontal or ascending part of the duodenum. Most patients are young and middle-aged women with slender bodies. It is also seen in patients with rapid weight loss, long-term bed rest or kyphosis. The clinical manifestations are recurrent upper abdominal pain and vomiting. Severe cases require surgical treatment, and the prognosis is good.

The patient has a slow onset and recurrent attacks, typically with distension or colic in the upper abdomen after meals. Sometimes the pain may be located in the right upper abdomen, above the navel, or even in the back. It often occurs 2 to 3 hours after eating. The prone position or chest-knee position can reduce and relieve the symptoms. Some patients may experience pain similar to that of duodenal ulcer. Due to duodenal congestion and gastric retention, patients experience repeated vomiting, which often occurs after meals, with or without abdominal pain. The vomitus is mostly old food mixed with bile. After eating, vomiting is easy to occur when lying on the back, standing or sitting. Changing body position to lying on the side, lying prone or lying on the chest and knees can alleviate the symptoms.

Due to repeated vomiting and loss of appetite, patients may experience weight loss, anemia, malnutrition, water, electrolyte and acid-base imbalance, and are often accompanied by mood changes.

Non-surgical treatment is generally used to adjust diet, increase nutrition and weight. It is advisable to eat easily digestible food and avoid food containing too much fiber. Pay attention to choosing a suitable body position. You can sit in the knee-chest position for half an hour after a meal. Strengthening abdominal muscle training and body position exercises can avoid the occurrence of symptoms and prevent recurrence. During the acute attack period, the patient should rest, fast, undergo gastrointestinal decompression or gastric lavage, receive intravenous nutritional support, and correct water, electrolyte, and acid-base imbalances. After the symptoms are relieved, eat liquid food first and eat small meals frequently. Those without obvious symptoms do not need special treatment.

Through the above introduction, you should know what superior mesenteric artery syndrome is. Patients with superior mesenteric artery syndrome should pay special attention in their daily lives. They should not eat food that is too difficult to digest. They must adjust their diet and increase their weight. If the condition is more serious, friends can consider surgical treatment.