Vascular Health and Risk Management (Aug 2020)
Perioperative Microcirculatory Changes Detected with Gastroscopy Assisted Laser Doppler Flowmetry and Visible Light Spectroscopy in Patients with Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome
Abstract
Simen Tveten Berge,1 Nathkai Safi,2 Asle W Medhus,3 Jon O Sundhagen,1 Jonny Hisdal,1,2 Syed SH Kazmi1,2 1Department of Vascular Surgery, Oslo University Hospital HF, Oslo, Norway; 2Faculty of Medicine, University in Oslo, Oslo, Norway; 3Department of Gastroenterology, Oslo University Hospital HF, Oslo, NorwayCorrespondence: Simen Tveten BergeDepartment of Vascular Surgery, Oslo University Hospital HF, Aker, Mail box: 4959 Nydalen, Oslo 0424, NorwayTel +47 97 72 32 20Email [email protected] SH KazmiDepartment of Vascular Surgery, Oslo University Hospital HF, Oslo 0586, NorwayTel +47 92468309Email [email protected]: Physiological tests may aid in diagnosing median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS). MALS is a symptomatic compression of the celiac artery causing symptoms similar to chronic mesenteric ischemia (CMI) of atherosclerotic etiology. Simultaneous use of visible light spectroscopy (VLS) and laser doppler flowmetry (LDF) during upper endoscopy may detect microcirculatory changes in these patients.Patients and Methods: In a single-center, prospective comparative cohort, 25 patients were evaluated for MALS. Patients with a consensus diagnosis of MALS (n=15) underwent a gastroscopy assisted, transmucosal microcirculatory assessment with LDF and VLS. Results were compared to individuals with normal intestinal circulation (n=38) evaluated with duplex ultrasonography, and to patients with chronic mesenteric ischemia (n=32). Treatment response was evaluated clinically at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months, and with ultrasound, VLS and LDF at three months. Health-related quality of life (QoL) was assessed with Euroqol (EQ-5D-5L), preoperatively, and 12 months postoperatively.Results: Preoperative mean transmucosal oxygen saturation was significantly lower in patients with MALS (SO2 76± 6), as compared to healthy individuals (SO2 81± 4), p=0.02. An overall significant improvement in SO2 after surgical decompression of the celiac artery was found (SO2 81± 3.7, p=0.05). Eleven (92%) patients with clinical improvement after laparoscopic decompression had a definitive diagnosis of MALS. Median follow-up was 18 months (4– 24 months). Four of the five dimensions investigated with EQ-5D-5L improved.Conclusion: VLS detected a significantly lower baseline transmucosal SO2 in patients with MALS as compared to control subjects with normal intestinal circulation. An improvement in SO2 after laparoscopic decompression was found, supporting a possible ischemic etiology in our patient population.Keywords: mesenteric ischemia, functional test, endoscopy, vascular surgery, abdominal pain
