Laparoscopic Release of the Arcuate Ligament

Rena C. Moon, MD; Muhammad Ghanem, MD; Andre F. Teixeira, MD, FACS; Muhammad A. Jawad, MD

Product Details
Product ID: ACS-5555
Year Produced: 2018
Length: 4 min.


Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome is a rare condition in which there is external compression of the Celiac Axis. The compression is by a fibrous attachment to the Crura, the Median Arcuate Ligament. This typically affects females aged 40 to 60. The typical symptoms are nausea and vomiting, and postprandial epigastric pain. Thus, it usually leads to weight loss. Though mainly clinical, the diagnosis can usually be confirmed with a multitude of imaging studies including computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and angiography. The treatment is surgical release of the ligament. This a case of laparoscopic release of the ligament in a 18 year old patient. Methods and Results: The case shown is that of an 18-year-old female patient with history of POT syndrome, who presented with symptoms of postprandial abdominal pain and weight loss. On presentation, her BMI is 20kg/m2. Preoperative workup included an MRI and Angiography which both showed compression of the celiac axis. She was taken for laparoscopic release of the Median Arcuate Ligament, and the operative course was uneventful. The postoperative course was uneventful, and diet was renewed with no issues. She was discharged home on postoperative day 2. Conclusion: Laparoscopic release of the Median Arcuate Ligament seems to be safe, feasible with good postoperative outcomes.