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Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome
Median arcuate ligament syndrome is compression of the celiac artery — an artery that originates from your aorta just below the diaphragm — by the median arcuate ligament, a part of the diaphragm that connects the diaphragm with the vertebrae in the lumbar region between the ribs and pelvis. Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome
- condition
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Definition
Median arcuate ligament syndrome is compression of the celiac artery — an artery that originates from your aorta just below the diaphragm — by the median arcuate ligament, a part of the diaphragm that connects the diaphragm with the vertebrae in the lumbar region between the ribs and pelvis.
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Causes
The median arcuate ligament usually passes above the beginning of the celiac artery; when it passes lower, it can compress the artery.
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Risk
There are no known risk factors for median arcuate ligament syndrome.
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Symptoms
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Weight loss
- diagnosis
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Diagnosis
- Angiography: A dye is inserted into the celiac artery through a catheter, then an X-ray is taken to show how blood flows through the arteries and whether the arteries are narrowed or blocked.
- Computed Tomography Angiography: X-ray slices of the artery are taken to determine if there are any areas with poor blood flow or narrow arteries. To do this, the patient is injected with a dye that helps make blood vessels visible on the scan.
- treatment
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Treatment
Surgery can be performed to relieve the compression, improving blood flow.
