Anyone else have Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome (SMAS)?

Posted by mattis1best @mattis1bestyahoocom, Aug 16, 2011

"With only about 500 reported cases in the history of English-language medical literature, recognition of SMA syndrome as a distinct clinical entity is controversial, with some in the medical community doubting its existence entirely. SMA syndrome is also known as Wilkie's syndrome, cast syndrome, mesenteric root syndrome, chronic duodenal ileus and intermittent arterio-mesenteric occlusion. It is distinct from Nutcracker syndrome, which is the entrapment of the left renal vein between the AA and the SMA.

SMA syndrome is estimated to have a mortality rate of 1 in 3. Delay in the diagnosis of SMA syndrome can result in fatal catabolysis (advanced malnutrition), dehydration, oliguria, electrolyte abnormalities, hypokalemia, acute gastric rupture or intestinal perforation (from prolonged mesenteric ischemia), gastrectasia, spontaneous upper gastrointestinal bleeding, hypovolemic shock, aspiration pneumonia, or sudden cardiovascular collapse from increased velocity of bloodflow in the SMA due to the reduced mesenteric angle. Go here to this link to know about my fight http://rare-disease-day-belfast-2011.blogspot.com/2011/02/paula-mattis-is-real-super-hero-she.html

Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome is a very rare condition characterized by recurrent vomiting, abdominal distention, weight loss, and postprandial distress. The cause is compression of the duodenum between vessels and the vertebrae and paravertebrae muscles when the angle between the superior mesenteric vessels and the aorta is lower than 18°. The diagnosis is difficult and usually is made by exclusion. Conservative management is helpful at first; however, symptom recurrence would indicate surgical treatment. EVERY LIFE COUNTS Let's get people the Public, Doctors start taking this more seriously and get Awareness/Prevention, researching possible causes and work towards early detection
Thanks, Paula

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

Jamie Olson | @jamienolson | Sep 3, 2017

@jennialoha! Hello and Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I'm sorry to hear you are having a hard time.

Here is a link to the Mayo Clinic appointment line if you are looking to travel here for care- http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63.

I’d like to introduce you to members discussing Superior mesenteric artery syndrome pain here in this thread- http://mayocl.in/2m7sgAw
Meet @hamiltl80, @sbraudrick13, @ej9718, @jobones94, @malaki, @smfjf101, @mattis1bestyahoocom, @annewhit, @katiesmom, @manzfield, @tford0722, @danamarie18, @sawatzky, @momofsmaswarrior. I hope they will join this discussion and share their experiences about SMAS in the hopes that it may help you.

Also, the NIH (National Institutes of Health) has some detailed information about SMAS;, and you can view it by clicking on this link: http://bit.ly/2lIDAXZ

@carolynlivingjaks, can you share with @jennialoha what the doctors recommend to manage the pain and also about surgery?

jenninaloha | @jenninaloha | Sep 3, 2017

In reply to @jamienolson "@jennialoha! Hello and Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I'm sorry to hear you are having a..." + (show)

Oh my goodness thanks for the warm welcome!! Finding this group is such a godsend!!

carolynlivingjaks | @carolynlivingjaks | Oct 25, 2017

Has anyone recently been diagnosed with SMA syndrome pain? If so has anything helped the chronic pain? My son who is 20 and had a Nissan Fundoliplication that was done too tight two years ago. (he has a congenital problem with his stomach) He lost 25 pounds in 3 months. Has since had the Nissen Fundoliplication torn down by Dr. Bowers Mayo Jacksonville and Dr. Bowers put in Aumentation with linxs device to help somewhat of his difficulty swallowing. Dr. Bowers, has diagnosed him with SMA syndrome pain. He is on a GJ feeding tube has gained 10 pounds but is still experiencing daily chronic SMA pain after eating.

Kanaaz Pereira, Connect Moderator | @kanaazpereira | Oct 25, 2017

Hello @jeffr, and welcome to Connect. I'm so sorry to hear about your husband's symptoms, but first I want to assure you that no question sounds ridiculous when it concerns your or your loved ones' health. Thank you for reaching out to the Connect community. You will notice that I moved your message to this discussion about SMAS so that you can meet others who know what you and your husband are facing. Please let me introduce you to a few members in this group:
@jenninaloha, @amyk811, @sierranichole, @carolynlivingjaks @malaki, @katiesmom, @hamiltl80, @sbraudrick13, @ej9718, @jobones94, @smfjf101, @manzfield, @tford0722, @danamarie18, this is such a tough journey, and I hope that you and @jeffr connect.

I would also sincerely encourage you to read this published study about "Laparoscopic Management of Duodenal Obstruction Resulting From Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome" https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/fullarticle/1919063

@jeffr, while we wait to hear from others, may i ask if the doctor has explained what are the next steps? And, how are you coping with this?

sharronbz | @sharronbz | Nov 19, 2017

My son had a Ladd's procedure to re-arrange his intestine away from the SMA, yet more than 6 years after the surgery he still has daily pains. 2 years ago he got spinal cord pain pacemaker that helps him a little. I wonder if you heard of other SMA patients that their pain continue post surgery?

Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Nov 19, 2017

Welcome, @sharronbz, to Mayo Clinic Connect. You've come to the right place, as this is where members are talking about Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome (SMAS) and perhaps can share some insights with you.

You mentioned a spinal cord pacemaker that helps a little with the pain. Has anything else helped him with the pain at all?

gregh | @gregh | Dec 1, 2017

Good Afternoon Everybody,

My name is Greg and my daughter was diagnosed with SMAS after about a 9 year journey. She was blown off by doctor after doctor till we found a good Gastro here in the Atlanta area. She was told,during the 9 years everything from get counseling for an eating disorder to well little girls can be emotional. I often wondered how some of them made it through to be a doctor. She has a feeding tube in right now, but isn’t tolerating it as well as we had hoped. A British film company did a short documentary on her for YouTube. If anyone is interested you can search Barcroft TV on YouTube and scroll till you see the one about feeding tube. Anyway, to my question. She was accepted as a patient to the Jacksonville Mayo and told to call the last part of November. When she called they said everything was booked though March. They also said they didn’t know when they would open up April or May appointmentsa d they pretty much blow her off. Customer service was, let’s say, less than helpful.

Sooooo.......how do you get through to anyone? You can’t find any direct dial numbers except to make an appointment. So now what? It is so frustrating. She is married and 24 now and still no end in sight. She wants to finish college and have a family. But can’t do it. Can anyone tell me how to get an appointment. There has got to be a way to get through to someone.

Thank you in advance for any help you can give.

Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Dec 1, 2017

Hello Greg, @gregh

I'm glad that you posted about your daughter's problems and I'm so sorry to hear about the difficulty she has had in getting an appointment! I'm sure that she would like to be seen as soon as possible. Has she only contacted the Florida location? It may be wise to contact one of the other Mayo locations in Minnesota or Arizona. Here is some information regarding appointments at those locations:

Mayo Clinic in Minnesota 507-405-4733
7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central time, Monday through Friday

Mayo Clinic in Arizona 888-981-7720 (toll-free)
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mountain Standard Time, Monday through Friday

Please keep in touch with us and let us know if she is able to get an appointment at another location.

Teresa

gregh | @gregh | Dec 1, 2017

In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello Greg, @gregh I'm glad that you posted about your daughter's problems and I'm so sorry..." + (show)

Thank you for the quick response. She hasn’t tried the other locations yet. We were hoping for the Florida location because we found a doctor there that has done some work with SMAS patients. And I guess after this long journey to this point, we wanted someone with experience.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Dec 1, 2017

Hi Greg,
@hamiltl80 shares similar experiences to your daughter until she was well treated both medically and as a person at Mayo Clinic Florida. I hope she'll return to share her experiences with you.

If your daughter is Mayo Clinic patient, you can manage appointments through the patient portal. Is she registered with Patient Online Services? https://gpsnetx.mayoclinic.org/psi/content/staticpatient/showpage/patientonline

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