Celiac artery compression syndrome

Celiac artery compression syndrome occurs when the median arcuate ligament of the diaphragm causes extrinsic compression of the celiac trunk. We repor t a case of a 65-year-old woman who presented with a three-month history of postprandial abdominal pain, nausea and some emesis, without weight loss. There was a bruit in the upper mid-epigastrium and the lateral aortic arter iography revealed a significant stenosis of the celiac artery. At operation , the celiac axis was found to be severely compressed anteriorly by fibers forming the inferior margin of the arcuate ligament of the diaphragm. The l igament was cut and a vein by-pass from the supraceliac aorta to the distal celiac artery was performed. The patient remains well and free of symptoms two and a half years since operation. In this report we discuss the indications and the therapeutic options of th is syndrome as well as a review of the literature is being given. (C) 2000 The International Society for Cardiovascular Research. Published by Elsevie r Science Ltd. All rights reserved.