The Superior Mesenteric Artery: from Syndrome in the Young to Vascular Atherosclerosis in the Old.

The Superior Mesenteric Artery: from Syndrome in the Young to Vascular Atherosclerosis in the Old. Cardiovasc Hematol Agents Med Chem. 2019 Sep 19;: Authors: Beita AKV, Whayne TF Abstract This review is directed at increasing awareness of two diverse rare upper gastrointestinal problems that occur at opposite ends of the age spectrum and are difficult to diagnose and treat. The superior mesenteric artery syndrome (SMAS) likely involves a young patient, especially female, and is especially associated with rapid weight loss, resulting in relative strangulation of the duodenum by a narrowing of the angle between the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and the aorta. On the other hand, atherosclerosis of the SMA is associated most likely with postprandial upper intestinal ischemia and abdominal pain occurs in the elderly at high risk for cardiovascular (CV) disease. Medical management of the SMAS in the young involves good alimentation and weight gain to overall increase the intestinal fat pad. Medical management of SMA atherosclerotic ischemia in the elderly is directed at marked lipid lowering with atherosclerotic plaque stabilization or even regression. If needed, surgery for SMAS can be attempted laparoscopically with duodenojejunoscopy the most popular procedure but there are also more conservative possibilities that avoid division of the duodenum. Also, sometimes direct vision is needed to successfully operate on SMAS. If surgery is n...
Source: Cardiovascular and Hematological Agents in Medicinal Chemistry - Category: Cardiology Tags: Cardiovasc Hematol Agents Med Chem Source Type: research