1. < Digestive Health

Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome (MALS)

Posted by Kari Ulrich, Alumna Mentor @kariulrich, Dec 26, 2016

I am looking for other patients that have been diagnosed with Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome. Although it is caused by compression of the celiac artery many people experience abdominal pain after eating, diarrhea, food avoidance. Usually the first doctors they see are GI doctors. It is a diagnosis that is made after everything else is ruled out. I am curious if anyone else has had surgery?

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graceym1 | @graceym1 | May 27 10:10pm

Glad it went well!!! Wonderful to hear. 😊. Thankyou for response. Did you have the surgery that you have to have your stomach cut open? That’s the one my vascular surgeon will perform on me.

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Ingegerd Enscoe, Alumni Mentor | @astaingegerdm | May 27 4:06pm
In reply to @graceym1 "How’d your surgery go? Also did you have pressure in your chest a lot? Thankyou!" + (show)
@graceym1

How’d your surgery go? Also did you have pressure in your chest a lot? Thankyou!

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Surgery went well. I had discomfort in the chest afterwards but Gabapentin helped.

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graceym1 | @graceym1 | May 26 7:42am
In reply to @astaingegerdm "@hollyreeves A gastroenterologist ordered test that eventually led to the MALS diagnosis. I had surgery at..." + (show)
@astaingegerdm

@hollyreeves
A gastroenterologist ordered test that eventually led to the MALS diagnosis.
I had surgery at another University hospital.

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How’d your surgery go? Also did you have pressure in your chest a lot? Thankyou!

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1 reply
Ingegerd Enscoe, Alumni Mentor | @astaingegerdm | May 25 10:55am
In reply to @hollyreeves "I’m glad you are recovering! Which type of Doctor at Mayo diagnosed you? Did you then..." + (show)
@hollyreeves

I’m glad you are recovering! Which type of Doctor at Mayo diagnosed you? Did you then see a surgeon ? I’m at Mayo now trying to get answers but the GI Department is booked through August.

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@hollyreeves
A gastroenterologist ordered test that eventually led to the MALS diagnosis.
I had surgery at another University hospital.

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1 reply
lasirvent | @lasirvent | May 25 10:02am
In reply to @hollyreeves "I’m glad you are recovering! Which type of Doctor at Mayo diagnosed you? Did you then..." + (show)
@hollyreeves

I’m glad you are recovering! Which type of Doctor at Mayo diagnosed you? Did you then see a surgeon ? I’m at Mayo now trying to get answers but the GI Department is booked through August.

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Honestly, no one at Mayo acknowledges Mals. There are several Mals doctors around the country that are very experienced and knowledgeable about Mals. It’s very complicated and you need a doctor that has lots of experience, not just 70% success rate. There are multiple concerns that need to be addressed.

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hollyreeves | @hollyreeves | May 24 7:06pm
In reply to @astaingegerdm "@jmendez37 Welcome to Mayo Connect! You have had a rough time- I think all of us..." + (show)
@astaingegerdm

@jmendez37
Welcome to Mayo Connect!
You have had a rough time- I think all of us here have had a similar experience.
What happened at your last Mayo visit?
When I had the ligament release the surgeon told me I had a 50-50 chance of success. I knew I had to have the surgery because I couldn’t continue living like I was then.
It actually was 100% success.
Laparoscopic surgery. There was some pain afterwards- Gabapentin worked well. I assume it was nerve pain. They also removed nerve plexus.
There was no more pain related to eating!
However, the celiac artery had a kink from the ligament pressure and in 6 months I needed a stent to keep it open.
Good luck! Let us know how it went.

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I’m glad you are recovering! Which type of Doctor at Mayo diagnosed you? Did you then see a surgeon ? I’m at Mayo now trying to get answers but the GI Department is booked through August.

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4 replies
329751 | @329751 | May 6 8:00am

Thank you very much! I hope you and anyone that has mals gets the treatment needed. I was blessed with and great husband and family.

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lasirvent | @lasirvent | May 5 11:25am
In reply to @jmendez37 "Hi! so i was diagnosed with Mals a few months ago. I have been dealing with..." + (show)
@jmendez37

Hi! so i was diagnosed with Mals a few months ago. I have been dealing with this issue since September 2023. I have been through every test possible so far. I went from 155lbs to 112lbs..Eating is very painful so now im at the point of food advesion..Knowing i will be in pain. I would rather starve:( I have been attending the Mayo clinic for months and with great experiance minuse my last visit went horribly wrong due to being malnurished and being told of many time delays. I have an upcoming procedure Medium Arcuate ligament Release. Doctor told me i have a 70% chance that it will work. Has anyone gone through this and what can i expect..the good and bad?

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I had Mals surgery 4 years ago, with an experienced surgeon who has 90% success rate for mals. You should have other compressions checked (EDS, ACNES,NC,). There are more and also, mals can affect pots. Message me if you need more info. Facebook Mals Awareness has lots of information and people who have been through this for support. Best wishes!

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329751 | @329751 | May 4 6:34am

I had mals surgery sept 20th of 2023. However I am 43 I have been living with this for 43 years. My stomach nor my bowel muscles do not work anymore with out medicine

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graceym1 | @graceym1 | May 3 7:51am
In reply to @jmendez37 "yeah it was the mayo clinic in jacksonville. Unfortuantly the celiac plexus block was all for..." + (show)
@jmendez37

yeah it was the mayo clinic in jacksonville. Unfortuantly the celiac plexus block was all for not. I was passing out and taken to the ER without knowing truly whether it worked or not. I had one bite of a cracker and that is all that i remember.:-| but i still have hope for getting better !:-)

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Ofcourse you will get better! All of us suffering with masks will get better. We just need a great Dr that specializes in Mals. And do lots of our own research. I also found out I have dysautonomia. My surgeon said 80 percent of her Mals patients have this as well. I take mididrine which helps all my blood pressure issues. Thank God. Good luck to you. Keep advocating for yourself!!!! Keep in touch. 😊❤️🙏🏻

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