Zuzana Havlíčeková, Ján Mikler, Jaroslava Pročková, Lýdia Zúbriková, Miloš Jeseňák, Dalibor Murgaš, Peter Bánovčin
The authors present a case of a 15-year-old girl with acute dilatation of stomach and duodenum following scoliosis surgery due to superior mesenteric artery syndrome. Conservative management was successful. Superior mesenteric artery syndrome (SMAS) is characterized by the compression of the third segment of duodenum between superior mesenteric artery and aorta leading to partial or total duodenal obstruction. Superior mesenteric artery syndrome is a known complication associated with the correction of spinal deformity. Acute increase in vertebral column length resulting in SMA traction and narrowing aortomesenteric angle seems to be most important etiopathogenic agent. Postoperative weight loss appears to be more important for the development of the SMAS than asthenic body type.