Laparoscopic Management of Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome

Kent W. Kercher, MD, FACS, B. Todd Heniford, MD, FACS, Alfredo M. Carbonell, DO

Product Details
Product ID: ACS-2269
Year Produced: 2003
Length: 10 min.


Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome is a disease process which causes compression of the transverse portion of the duodenum by the superior mesenteric artery. Patients often present with a partial or complete duodenal obstruction. Case reports of surgical correction of SMA syndrome consist of conservative management, duodenojejunostomy, gastrojejunostomy, and ligament of Treitz division. This video depicts a 32 year old female with SMA syndrome who underwent a laparoscopic duodenojejunostomy. The patient was placed supine and slightly lateral and a four-port technique was used. The gastrocolic ligament was divided and a Kocher maneuver was carried out to aid in straightening the C-loop of the duodenum. The ligament of Treitz was located, and the jejunum run distally for 50 cm to identify a loop which would freely reach into the upper abdomen for duodenojejunostomy. Using a 45 mm endo GIA stapling device with a blue, 3.5 mm staple height, a functional side-to-side duodenojejunostomy was created. Upper endoscopy was performed to check for patency of the anastomosis and leak of the staple line. Laparoscopic duodenojejunostomy can be performed safely and appears to be effective in alleviating the symptoms associated with superior mesenteric artery syndrome.