Acute-onset of superior mesenteric artery syndrome following surgical correction of scoliosis: Case report and review of literature

Abstract

Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome is a rare condition caused by compression of the third portion of duodenum by the angle between the superior mesenteric artery against the aorta. A rare presentation of SMA syndrome is following scoliosis repair and spinal fusion with a low incidence and most of these patients present with symptoms within one to two weeks or even more after the surgical repair. A high suspicion index after surgical correction of scoliosis with well-known risk factors (low BMI, low percentile of weight for height, and a high degree of change in the Cobb's angles) can anticipate the postoperative diagnosis. Management has been described for postsurgical scoliosis repair with a late onset presentation of SMA syndrome with nutritional support with good success rates, but there is no data for best treatment management for acute onset especially when the surgical correction of the spine causes complete duodenal obstruction and a surgical intervention might be warranted. Here in, we present a 14 year-old boy with an acute 24-h postoperative SMA syndrome following surgical correction of scoliosis.

Keywords

• Superior mesenteric artery syndrome
• Wilkie's syndrome
• Scoliosis
• Bilious emesis
• Duodenal obstruction
• Spinal fusion
• Acute-onset