Major vascular and pancreatic penetrating trauma in patient with pre-existing MALS

Abstract

Summary: We report a case regarding a 24-year-old male with severe intraabdominal complex vascular lesions involving the superior mesenteric vein (SMV), portal vein (PV), inferior vena cava (IVC), the Common Hepatic and Gastroduodenal arteries (CHA and GDA) in combination with a total transection of the pancreatic neck following a single penetrating trauma to the upper abdomen.The management of the splanchnic vascular lesions were further complicated by the patient having pre-existing vascular condition known as Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome (MALS). The MALS aspect makes this case unique and interesting to all trauma surgeons. Furthermore, this case report also reflects on the management of severe pancreatic trauma in the setting of the aforementioned vascular lesions.

Keywords

• Penetrating trauma
• Vascular lesions
• Pancreatic lesion and Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome (MALS)