Celiac artery compression syndrome

Celiac artery compression syndrome also known as MALS (median arcuate ligament syndrome), “celiac artery compression”, “celiac axis syndrome” or “Dunbar syndrome”, is a rare medical condition caused by the median arcuate ligament (MAL) of the diaphragm (arc-shaped fibrous muscular band in the chest area) directly compressing the celiac artery (Figure 1) ¹, ², ³, ⁴, ⁵, ⁶, ⁷, ⁸, ⁹, ¹⁰, ¹¹, ¹², ¹³, ¹⁴, ¹⁵, ¹⁶. Lipshutz first reported the anatomical compression of the celiac artery in 1917 ⁷. As a clinical entity, median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS) was first described by Harolja in 1963 ⁷. In 1965, Dunbar first described the stenotic anomaly of celiac artery through visualization angiographically ¹, ¹⁷. He correlated the image findings and clinical manifestations of patients presenting with abdominal angina, such as abdominal pain after meal, nausea/vomiting, and weight loss. He found that those patients became symptom-free after successful surgical release of the compression by sectioning the median arcuate ligament (MAL). Although the existence of celiac artery compression syndrome remains controversial, it is widely accepted that celiac artery compression syndrome is a disease of mesenteric ischemia and should be differentiated with other ischemic bowel diseases. The cause of celiac artery compression syndrome is the external compression of celiac artery and/or celiac ganglion by the median arcuate ligament (MAL) ¹⁸, ⁷. Ischemia due to reduced blood flow through the celiac artery and/or neuropathic pain resulting from celiac ganglion compression may result in a range of gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea, postprandial discomfort, and weight loss. Individuals with celiac artery compression syndrome present with signs and symptoms of foregut ischemia, including abdominal pain during body exercise caused by an intermittent visceral ischemia or after meal epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, and unintentional weight loss ¹².

Celiac artery compression syndrome is a rare condition with a reported incidence of 2 per 100,000 population ⁷. A considerable number of celiac artery compression syndrome patients are overlooked in the diagnosis of patients complaining of abdominal pain ⁶. Celiac artery compression syndrome is commonly seen in young females between the ages of 30 to 50 years. It has a female to male ratio of 4:1 ⁷. Celiac artery compression syndrome has also been reported in children. The incidence of radiographic compression of the celiac axis has been reported to be between 10% to 24% in some populations; note that symptomatic celiac artery compression exists in a smaller percentage of the population ¹⁹.

The location of the median arcuate ligament (MAL) and celiac artery varies slightly from person to person. Typically, the median arcuate ligament (MAL) runs across the largest blood vessel in the body (the aorta). It sits above the celiac artery (see Figure 1). But sometimes the median arcuate ligament or the celiac artery may be out of place, causing celiac artery compression syndrome. The celiac artery develops fibrotic changes in its wall due to the recurrent compression from the median arcuate ligament. The median arcuate ligament may also put pressure on the network of nerves surrounding the celiac artery called the celiac plexus (celiac ganglia). The mechanism of the celiac artery compression and its anatomical correlates have been incompletely delineated. However, it has been hypothesized that in 10% to 24% of the population, the median arcuate ligament crosses the aorta at an atypically inferior anatomic level and subsequently results in compression by the MAL ²⁰. It is also hypothesized that celiac artery compression syndrome-related pain is both neuropathic and due to vascular compression in cause; namely, foregut ischemia pain results from decreased blood flow and chronic compression, as well as overstimulation of the celiac plexus (celiac ganglia) contributing to sympathetic neuropathic pain ⁵. The celiac ganglia are collateral sympathetic ganglia that lie adjacent to the celiac trunk artery along its anterolateral sides ²¹. The celiac ganglia are the largest sympathetic ganglia in the body, and provide the sympathetic innervation to the foregut organs ²¹. While the celiac ganglia  are typically paired, there can be up to five celiac ganglia, all of which are connected via a complex neural network, the celiac plexus, receiving preganglionic sympathetic fibers from Thoracic T5 to T12 ²¹. Since the celiac ganglia are responsible for sympathetic innervation to, and visceral pain from, the foregut, impingement of the celiac ganglia can result in a range of symptoms including radiating foregut discomfort, nausea, vomiting, epigastric fullness, and delayed gastric emptying ⁵. Therefore, the celiac artery compression syndrome symptom complex may include a range of expressions resulting from both vascular ischemia and/or neuropathic pain and overstimulation ⁴.

In patients with celiac artery compression syndrome, the celiac artery is compressed by the median arcuate ligament (MAL) with expiration ⁸, ²². With inspiration, the celiac artery descends in the abdominal cavity, resulting in a more vertical orientation of the celiac artery, which often relieves the compression ⁸, ²². With the patient in the upright position, the celiac artery descends farther into the abdominal cavity, which increases the vertical orientation of the celiac artery even more and further relieves compression caused by the median arcuate ligament ²³.

Celiac artery compression syndrome is an uncommon cause of after meal abdominal pain and it is a diagnosis of exclusion. Patients with celiac artery compression syndrome often undergo a multidisciplinary evaluation with several specialties including gastroenterology, vascular surgery, general surgery, cardiology, anesthesia pain management, interventional radiology, and psychological assessment. The evaluation includes several gastroenterology tests including upper endoscopy and colonoscopy, motility studies, gastric emptying tests, and serology studies. Not all patients require all the above-mentioned tests, but an expert opinion of a gastroenterologist is critical to guide the diagnostic work-up and to establish that celiac artery compression syndrome is the most likely cause of the pain. A surgical consultation with an expert on celiac artery compression syndrome treatment is needed once the diagnosis is contemplated. Among patients who are on narcotic pain medication, anesthesia pain clinic consultation and a therapeutic plan to decrease or discontinue the use of narcotics is important prior to proceeding with invasive treatment.

The typical celiac artery compression syndrome patient presentation is a young, thin woman with symptoms of nausea, vomiting, early satiety, difficulty gaining weight, postprandial epigastric pain, and an abdominal bruit ²⁴, ²⁵. Further workup with Doppler ultrasound and/or computed tomographic (CT-scan) imaging is required for definitive diagnosis ²⁶, ²⁷, ²⁸, ²⁹.

Celiac artery compression syndrome treatment options include open, laparoscopic or robot-assisted surgery to release the median arcuate ligament (MAL) and open vascular reconstruction restore blood flow through the celiac artery ⁹. Indication for surgery is established in these otherwise healthy, symptomatic patients by showing a baseline celiac velocity >200 cm/m² and stenosis of the celiac artery on CT-scan or MR angiography ²⁴, ²⁵. Endovascular treatment is currently used only as adjuvant procedure after surgical approach, in refractory cases with residual stenosis of celiac artery ⁹.

Figure 1. Celiac artery compression syndrome

Footnotes: Diagrammatic representation of celiac artery (celiac trunk) anatomy, showing: (A) The median arcuate ligament (MAL) compressing the celiac trunk as in median arcuate ligament syndrome; and (B) normal anatomical condition. The diaphragmatic crura (legs of the diaphragm) arise from the anterior surface of the L1 to L4 vertebral bodies on the right and the first two or three lumbar vertebral bodies on the left ³⁰. In addition, the crura arise from the intervertebral disks and anterior longitudinal ligament ²¹. The crura pass superior and anterior to surround the aortic opening and the crura of the diaphragm are united in the midline by a tendinous band of fascia called the median arcuate ligament (MAL). The aortic hiatus, an opening between the diaphragm and vertebral column around T12, permits passage of the abdominal aorta through the diaphragm ²¹. However, in 10% to 24% of the population, the median arcuate ligament (MAL) may be lower and therefore cross over the proximal portion of the celiac axis, causing a characteristic indentation ³⁰. Simultaneous to the development of the diaphragm, the celiac artery (celiac trunk), superior mesenteric artery (SMA), and inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) each form when the respective pair of developing segmental arteries converges at the midline of the abdominal aorta ³¹. The celiac artery (celiac trunk) develops to provide arterial supply to the foregut, the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) to the midgut, and inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) to the hindgut. As the gut tube develops, the origins of these three unpaired visceral branches migrate caudally until they reach their final vertebral level around the end of month two ³¹. The most common vertebral positions reported in adults are: T12 for the celiac artery (celiac trunk), L1 for superior mesenteric artery (SMA), and L3 for inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) ²¹. Although the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) is commonly described as originating 1.0 cm inferior to the celiac artery (celiac trunk), several studies have demonstrated the celiac artery (celiac trunk) and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) to be immediately adjacent in 22–58% of cases ³², ³³, ³⁴. It is theorized that the close proximity of the two arteries may be evidence of celiac artery (celiac trunk) compression by the MAL. In addition, one study found that up to 37% of cadavers had evidence of kinking of the celiac artery (celiac trunk) ³³. A different study on fresh cadaveric specimens demonstrated that the celiac artery (celiac trunk) origin was at or above the MAL in 33% of subjects ³⁵. However, it was unclear whether the celiac artery (celiac trunk) originated more superiorly than normal, if the diaphragm extended further inferiorly, or if there was a combination of the two factors. A final possible indicator of celiac artery (celiac trunk) compression is the celiac artery angle of origination. It has been postulated that if there is an acute deviation of the left and right diaphragmatic crura, the MAL may cause constriction of the celiac artery (celiac trunk) ³⁶. The aortic hiatus, bounded by the median arcuate ligament (MAL), frequently approximates the vertebral level of the celiac artery (celiac trunk), leaving little space between them. In some cases, the median arcuate ligament (MAL) may even overlap the celiac artery (celiac trunk), a condition which may result in impingement of the celiac artery (celiac trunk).

[Source ⁴ ]

Figure 2. Celiac artery compression syndrome CT scan

Footnote: A 31-year-old woman presented with several episodes of chest pain, palpitations, exercise intolerance, nausea, vertigo, tremors and hypertension. She had a history of chronic and recurrent abdominal pain, especially after meals. Gastrointestinal tract pathologies were ruled out by ultrasonography, gastroscopy and colonoscopy. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed high grade stenosis (>80%) of the celiac artery by the median arcuate ligament, 10mm from its origin from the aorta with poststenotic dilation (arrow). The patient was subsequently diagnosed with celiac artery compression syndrome and admitted to our department for surgical treatment.

[Source ¹¹ ]

Figure 3. Celiac artery compression syndrome 3D CT scan

Footnote: Three-dimensional computed tomography reconstruction showing anterior (A) and lateral (B) views of compression of celiac trunk by the median arcuate ligament with poststenotic dilation (arrow)

[Source ¹¹ ]

Figure 4. Celiac artery compression syndrome diagnostic and treatment algorithm

[Source ¹² ]

Celiac artery compression syndrome causes

The cause of celiac artery compression syndrome is not fully understood. The causes and diagnosis of celiac artery compression syndrome are a subject of controversy because the anatomic compression of the celiac artery by the median arcuate ligament can also be seen in asymptomatic patients. In other words, every patient with this anatomic compression does not develop symptoms ¹⁰, ⁵, ², ⁷, ³⁷, ³⁸, ³⁹, ³³, ³². Celiac artery compression syndrome is caused when the median arcuate ligament descends lower or the celiac artery is anatomically positioned higher on the aorta causing the median arcuate ligament to cross over and compress the celiac artery and surrounding tissue which can include the celiac plexus nerves. As of right now there are multiple theories of why celiac artery compression syndrome occurs within the body. Some of those theories are that this structural anomaly could be congenital, meaning from birth or develop after spinal surgery, abdominal surgery or due to abdominal trauma. Most contemporary literature supports the theory that compression of the celiac artery by the median arcuate ligament leads to relative gut ischemia, causing the recurrent abdominal symptoms ⁴⁰, ⁴¹, ⁴². An alternative “neurogenic” theory suggests that the median arcuate ligament compresses the neural tissue surrounding the celiac artery origin, leading to neuropathic pain ⁴³, ⁴⁴. During exercise, vascular resistance of the celiac and mesenteric arteries increases, which would worsens ischemia and produce postexertional pain ⁴⁵. Diaphragmatic movements may also irritate the neural tissue surrounding the celiac artery. Postexertional pain may be a significant outcome predictor because it is a marker for functionally significant vascular compromise caused by compression from the median arcuate ligament that is otherwise asymptomatic.

While some degree of celiac artery and surrounding tissue compression can be seen in the general population without symptoms, these people should be followed closely as people can become symptomatic at any age. Compromised blood flow and inflammation results in changes in oxygen levels (hypoxia/HIF factor and oxidative stress) and nutrients to the abdominal organs and nerves which can result in consequential damage. Nerve irritation and or damage can cause disturbances with myenteric electrical activity to the stomach resulting in the celiac artery compression syndrome symptoms.

The vast majority of patients with partial celiac artery (celiac trunk) compression are asymptomatic because collateral circulation typically prevents the development of symptoms ⁴⁶. If the compression is severe and symptomatic, however, a diagnosis of celiac artery compression syndrome is considered ⁴.

Although the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) is commonly described as originating 1.0 cm inferior to the celiac artery (celiac trunk), several studies have demonstrated the celiac artery (celiac trunk) and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) to be immediately adjacent in 22–58% of cases ³², ³³, ³⁴. It is theorized that the close proximity of the two arteries may be evidence of celiac artery (celiac trunk) compression by the median arcuate ligament. In addition, one study found that up to 37% of cadavers had evidence of kinking of the celiac artery (celiac trunk) ³³. A different study on fresh cadaveric specimens demonstrated that the celiac artery (celiac trunk) origin was at or above the median arcuate ligament in 33% of subjects ³⁵. However, it was unclear whether the celiac artery (celiac trunk) originated more superiorly than normal, if the diaphragm extended further inferiorly, or if there was a combination of the two factors. A final possible indicator of celiac artery (celiac trunk) compression is the celiac artery angle of origination. It has been theorized that if there is an acute deviation of the left and right diaphragmatic crura, the median arcuate ligament may cause constriction of the celiac artery (celiac trunk) ³⁶.

Risk factors for median arcuate ligament syndrome

Because the cause of celiac artery compression syndrome is poorly understood, the risk factors for the syndrome are unclear. Celiac artery compression syndrome has been seen in children, even twins, which might mean genetics plays a role.

Some people have developed celiac artery compression syndrome after pancreatic surgery and blunt injury to the upper stomach area.

Celiac artery compression syndrome signs and symptoms

Celiac artery compression syndrome symptoms varies and is case specific to each person’s symptoms ⁴⁰, ⁴⁷. Often, people with compression of the celiac artery don’t have any symptoms. However, individuals with celiac artery compression syndrome can have long-term (chronic) abdominal pain that can range from intermittent mild to chronic debilitating that are triggered after eating or exercise and often with nausea, vomiting, and unintentional weight loss. These symptoms may be due to a lack of blood flow through the celiac artery or compression on celiac nerves in the area.

Symptoms of celiac artery compression syndrome include:

• Pain in the upper middle stomach area, which may go away when leaning forward
• Stomach pain after eating, exercising or changing body position
• Nausea and vomiting
• Bloating
• Diarrhea
• Fear of eating food due to pain, leading to significant weight loss — usually greater than 20 pounds (9.1 kilograms)

Celiac artery compression syndrome pain may make it difficult for you to eat, exercise, sleep and do everyday tasks.

Celiac artery compression syndrome complications

Celiac artery compression syndrome complications include long-term pain, especially after meals. The pain can lead to a fear of eating and significant weight loss. The pain and related depression or anxiety can greatly impact quality of life. Celiac artery compression syndrome symptoms may be vague and can mimic other conditions. It may take some time to get an accurate diagnosis.

Celiac artery compression syndrome differential diagnosis

Celiac artery compression syndrome may mimic several other medical conditions posing a diagnostic challenge for the physician. It can be mistaken for other conditions that can cause post-prandial pain such as gallbladder disease including biliary dyskinesia and cholecystitis. Other intra-abdominal pathologies such as appendicitis, colorectal malignancy, hepatitis, gastroparesis and gastritis/peptic ulcer disease can also mimic celiac artery compression syndrome. Furthermore, chronic mesenteric ischemia secondary to atherosclerotic disease may have a similar presentation as celiac artery compression syndrome. Some of these conditions may co-exist simultaneously as well. Presence for abdominal bruit on examination may lead to consideration for other entities such as renal artery stenosis or arteriovenous malformations.

Some common misdiagnoses of celiac artery compression syndrome include:

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): Celiac artery compression syndrome can cause abdominal pain and discomfort that may be mistaken for GERD, a more common condition in which stomach acid irritates the esophagus.
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): Celiac artery compression syndrome patients often experience abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in bowel habits, which can be similar to the symptoms of IBS.
• Functional dyspepsia: This condition is characterized by chronic or recurrent pain in the upper abdomen, which can be similar to the pain experienced by celiac artery compression syndrome patients.
• Peptic ulcer disease: Peptic ulcers, which are sores in the lining of the stomach or duodenum, can cause abdominal pain similar to that experienced in celiac artery compression syndrome.
• Gallbladder disease: Celiac artery compression syndrome symptoms can be mistaken for gallbladder issues, such as gallstones, which can also cause abdominal pain and discomfort.
• Pancreatitis: Inflammation of the pancreas can cause abdominal pain and other symptoms that may be mistaken for celiac artery compression syndrome.
• Splanchnic artery syndrome: This rare condition occurs when blood flow to the digestive organs is reduced, leading to symptoms that can be similar to celiac artery compression syndrome.
• Pelvic congestion syndrome: This condition, which involves the pooling of blood in pelvic veins, can cause chronic pelvic pain that may be mistaken for celiac artery compression syndrome.
• Nutcracker syndrome: This rare vascular disorder results from the compression of the left renal vein and can cause symptoms similar to celiac artery compression syndrome, including abdominal pain.
• Endometriosis: A condition in which endometrial tissue grows outside the uterus, endometriosis can cause pelvic pain and other symptoms that may be misinterpreted as celiac artery compression syndrome.

Celiac artery compression syndrome diagnosis

There’s no specific test to diagnose celiac artery compression syndrome. Celiac artery compression syndrome is still commonly considered a diagnosis of exclusion, so patients are usually sent for many tests most of which turn out “normal.” Unfortunately, celiac artery compression syndrome symptoms can all too often be dismissed by clinicians as non-specific, psychosomatic, or psychiatric, leaving many patients to suffer for months and years longer than they need to.

Your doctor will carefully examine you and ask questions about your symptoms and health history. Bloodwork and imaging tests help your doctor rule out other causes of your stomach pain.

Your doctor may hear a whooshing sound known as an abdominal bruit or thrill in the same epigastric area when listening to your upper stomach area with a stethoscope. The sound occurs when a blood vessel is blocked or narrowed.

Physical examination may activate tenderness in the epigastric region when palpated. Observations may include weight loss and malnutrition may be evident. Once celiac artery compression syndrome is suspected, a diagnostic workup is initiated to include various tests indicative of a diagnosis of celiac artery compression syndrome and rule out cardiovascular and gastrointestinal issues.

Tests used to rule out other conditions and diagnose celiac artery compression syndrome may include:

• Blood tests. These tests are done to check for problems with the liver, pancreas, kidneys and other parts of the body. A complete blood cell count shows the level of white and red blood cells. A high white blood cell count can mean there’s an infection.
• Ultrasound of the abdomen. This noninvasive test uses high-frequency sound waves to determine how blood is flowing through the blood vessels. It can show if the celiac artery is compressed, especially when breathing in and out deeply.
• Upper endoscopy called esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). It’s done to view the esophagus, stomach and upper part of the small intestine (duodenum). During an EGD, the provider gently guides a long, flexible tube with a camera on the end (endoscope) down the throat after numbing medication is applied. If needed, the provider can take tissue samples (biopsy) during this procedure.
• Gastric emptying studies. Compression of the celiac artery can slow the rate of stomach emptying. Gastric emptying studies are done to determine how fast the stomach empties its contents. Slow or delayed gastric emptying may be from other medical conditions.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An MRI uses powerful magnets and radio waves to produce detailed images of the body area being studied. Sometimes, dye is injected into a blood vessel to more clearly show how blood moves through the arteries and veins (magnetic resonance angiogram).
• Computerized tomography (CT) of the abdomen. A CT scan uses X-rays to create cross-sectional images of specific parts of the body. An abdominal CT scan can show if the celiac artery is narrowed or blocked. Sometimes a provider injects dye into a blood vessel to better see blood flow in the arteries and veins (CT angiogram).

Evaluation of other gastrointestinal disorders:

• HIDA (hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid) scan of gallbladder
• Colonoscopy with biopsies
• 24-hour pH impedance probe
• Esophageal manometry
• Gastric tonometry
• Blood work panels
• Chest X-ray
• Electrocardiogram (ECG)
• Stool tests

Celiac artery compression syndrome treatment

Surgery is the only treatment option for celiac artery compression syndrome ⁴⁸, ⁴⁹. The most common procedure is called median arcuate ligament release or median arcuate ligament decompression. Celiac ganglionectomy rather than simple neurolysis is recommended as a means of addressing the neuropathic pain associated with celiac artery compression syndrome. It’s usually done as an open surgery. Sometimes it can be done as a minimally invasive (laparoscopic or robotic) procedure. While you’re under general anesthesia, a surgeon splits the median arcuate ligament and network of nerves in the stomach area (celiac plexus). Doing so provides more room for the celiac artery. It restores blood flow and relieves pressure on the celiac nerves. In some cases, an omentum fat wrap may be used during surgery to assist with keeping the artery in the correct anatomical position and reduce scar tissue development. Persistent stenosis of the celiac artery after decompression may be appreciated with intraoperative handheld Doppler assessment, angiography, or duplex ultrasound. Ultrasound may be used to show restoration of normal blood flow which verifies adequate release of the artery at the time of surgery. This can be addressed with arterial reconstruction, examples of which include an aortoceliac bypass or a celiac artery patch angioplasty. Conversion from laparoscopic to open surgery is typically required for vascular reconstruction. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with or without stenting provides an adjunctive endovascular approach to revascularization of a persistent stenosis after MAL release.

A systematic review by Jimenez et al ⁴⁹ found that the majority of patients treated with either open decompression or laparoscopic decompression of the celiac artery compression syndrome experienced immediate postoperative pain relief. However, the laparoscopic approach is becoming more widely adopted owing to benefits such as shorter hospital stay, decreased time to feeding, smaller risk of postoperative complications,6 decreased blood loss, greater postoperative pain relief and better cosmetic outcomes ⁵⁰, ⁵¹.

Some people with celiac artery compression syndrome may need an open surgery to repair or replace a blocked celiac artery and fully restore blood flow (revascularization).

For patients with recurrent or persistent abdominal pain re-evaluation for possible narrowing of the celiac artery either due to the formation of scar tissue within the celiac artery wall (intravascular web) or the integrity of the vessel wall has been compromised due to the mechanical compression. Additional procedures called co-surgical procedures may be pursued. These include celiac artery bypass (such as an aorto celiac or aorto hepatic bypass), superior mesenteric artery transposition, splenic artery transposition, balloon angioplasty with or without stenting, and para-spinal ganglion nerve blocks. Angioplasty with or without stenting is typically reserved for refractory cases where the first-line surgical therapies may have proven unsuccessful in providing symptomatic relief ⁵². Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty (PTA) or endovascular stent placement is not recommended before surgical division of the median arcuate ligament due to failure from the external compression crushing the stent which can add increased risk for artery wall damage and or dissection.

If you have celiac artery compression syndrome release surgery, you’ll usually stay in the hospital for 2 to 3 days. You’ll need an ultrasound about a month after surgery to confirm that blood flow through the celiac artery is fully restored. Several studies have shown that surgery to release the median arcuate ligament is safe, even in children with celiac artery compression syndrome. It often results in immediate pain relief and improves the person’s quality of life.

Celiac artery compression syndrome diet

There is no diet to treat celiac artery compression syndrome. Surgery is the only treatment option for celiac artery compression syndrome ⁴⁸, ⁴⁹.

Celiac artery compression syndrome prognosis

Following surgical intervention, about 65% to 87% of celiac artery compression syndrome patients report symptom relief ⁷, ⁴³, ⁴¹, ⁵³, ⁵⁴, ⁵⁵. Symptom relief has been reported to be immediate in some instances. In others, it may take up to a few months for the resolution of the pain ⁷. 41% of patients remained asymptomatic 3 to 11 years later ⁵⁶. Although late recurrence is frequently seen, this seems to be milder than the presenting symptoms. In another study reported by Reilly et al. ⁴², patients with celiac artery compression syndrome were symptom-free with a mean of 9 years after surgery.

The presence of abdominal pain after exercise has been shown to be correlated with symptomatic improvement after surgery, while the presence of vomiting and unprovoked abdominal pain preoperatively has been shown to be associated with suboptimal surgical outcomes postoperatively ⁵⁷. Patients who have a good response to a diagnostic celiac plexus block preoperatively also seem to report better symptom relief following surgical intervention ⁷. The presence of atherosclerotic risk factors may predict poorer outcomes postoperatively ⁵⁷.

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