Obstruçäo duodenal por compressäo vascular: síndrome da artéria mesentérica superior / Vascular compression of the duodenum: superior mesenteric artery syndrome

THe Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome or vascular compression of the duodenum is a rare disease. The superior mesenteric artery and the aorta compress the third portion of the duodenum and cause an intermittent obstruction. The preoperative diagnosis is very difficult. We present in this article two cases of superior mesenteric artery syndrome. In our first case the patient had chronic illnesses with weight loss and syndromes of high intestinal obstruction. In this case a duodenojejunostomy was performed. The patient died due to respiratory complications. In the other one the patient was submitted to a prior vascular operation - aorto-bifemoral by-pass. In this case a clinical management yelded satisfatory results