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Enigma of Bowel Angina: Unraveling Celiac Trunk Stenosis
Abeer Qasim1, Venkata Sri Ramani Peesapati1, Jay Patel1
1Internal Medicine, BronxCare Health System, New York, USA.
Insights
Celiac artery compression syndrome, a rare cause of abdominal pain, involves narrowing of the celiac artery. This case highlights a 67-year-old female with severe stenosis managed conservatively.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Surgery
- Gastroenterology
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Celiac artery compression syndrome (CACS) is characterized by chronic abdominal pain due to celiac artery narrowing, often seen in middle-aged females.
- Etiologies include atherosclerosis, median arcuate ligament syndrome, pancreatitis, and tumor invasion, leading to symptoms like post-prandial epigastric pain, weight loss, and nausea.
- Collateral circulation often delays symptom onset in patients with CACS.
Abstract:
The celiac axis is commonly involved in conditions that cause the narrowing or blockage of a celiac artery atherosclerosis and other vascular disease. Celiac artery compression syndrome is defined as chronic abdominal pain occurring because of compression of the celiac artery commonly in middle-aged (40 to 60 years) females. Various etiologies include atherosclerosis of mesenteries vessels, pancreatitis, median arcuate ligament syndrome, and tumor invasion. It is an uncommon condition, and symptoms include post-prandial abdominal pain mostly in the epigastrium, weight loss, nausea, diarrhea, anorexia, and bloating. Patients are asymptomatic for a prolonged duration due to collateral blood supply to the bowel from the patent superior mesenteric and inferior mesenteric arteries. We present a case of a 67-year-old female who initially presented with signs and symptoms suggestive of small bowel obstruction, however, due to persistent abdominal pain, she underwent a CT scan suggestive of severe celiac trunk stenosis causing abdominal angina. The patient was managed conservatively and responded well with close follow-up.
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