Ultrasonography in diagnosis of superior mesenteric artery syndrome [SMAS] as a cause of dyspepsia in young asthenic females

ABSTRACT

Thirty selected female patients with SMAS suffering from dyspepsia in the form of post-prandial epigastric pain, distension nausea and vomiting were studied. Other causes of dyspepsia were excluded. We examined superior mesenteric artery at its origin from abdominal aorta by ultrasonography in longitudinal and transverse sections and estimated the distance and angle between it and the aorta. The results were compared with those of 10 normal fermales. The distance between SMA and aorta was found to be 2-3 mm with a mean of 2.5 mm in patients with SMAS compared to 10-20 mm with a mean of 18mm in controls. Also the angle between SMA and aorta was from 10-20 females it was from 38 aorta in patients with SMAS as the cause of dyspepsia and vascular compression of the duodenum [P 0.001]. Follow up of these patients by ultrasonography after six months from giving them medical treatment aiming at increasing body weight, the distance and the angle between superior mesenteric artery and aorta have increased towards normal and this was accompanied by amelioration of dyspeptic symptoms. So ultrasonography is considered to be accurate, non-invasive and safe diagnostic method in diagnosis and follow up of SMAS as a cause of dyspepsia in young asthenic females and we recommend it in investigation of all cases with dyspepsia