Comparative results of treatment of superior mesenteric artery syndrome in children by forming bypass anastomoses

Introduction. Superior mesenteric artery syndrome (SMAS) is a rare cause of chronic duodenal obstruction in children. It is defined as a compression of the inferior horizontal branch of the duodenum (DU) between aorta and the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). Various methods of surgical correction of the disease have been proposed in the literature, but a comparative analysis of their effectiveness has not been carried out. Objective: the comparative analysis of using various options of bypass anastomoses (side-to-side duodenojejunostomy, Roux-en-Y duodenojejunostomy) for SMAS in children was carried out. Materials and methods: thirty-four patients were treated with SMAS at the clinic of the Federal State Budgetary Institution of Children’s City Clinical Hospital named after. N.F. Filatov for the period from 2012 to 2023. Patients were divided into 2 groups: operated on by forming a side-to-side bypass duodenojejunostomy (group 1 - 21 children (61.8%)) and Roux-en-Y (group 2 - 13 children (38.2%). A retro- and prospective analysis of the results of their treatment was carried out. The average age was 15 years 7 months (from 8 years 5 months to 17 years 8 months). Girls were predominant 85.3%. Standard investigations were performed: ultrasound, fluoroscopy, and computer tomography of the organs of the abdominal cavity with contrast, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, laboratory research methods. The WHO AntroPlus program was used to assess the physical condition of the children. Results: the groups were assessed in terms of anthropometric indicators, gender composition and age. The following causes of SMAS were identified in both groups: weight loss caused by neuropsychiatric diseases - 29.4%; growth spurt - 26.5%; weight loss due to other reasons (repeated surgeries, diseases accompanied by weight loss, etc.) - 23.5%; without an obvious reason - 17.6% (6 people), correction of scoliotic deformity - 2.9%. The analysis showed that statistically significant differences were identified in the duration of surgery. The average duration of the operation in group 1 was 78.10±21.53 minutes, in group 2 - 103.46 ±18.19 minutes (p=0.001*). There was no statistically significant difference between groups in the postoperative period and in the complications (bleeding from the surgical site 8.8% (3 people) and reactive pancreatitis 5.9% (2 people)). Conclusion: no statistically significant difference was found in the results of both types of operations. However, the laparoscopic side-to-side duodenojejunostomy bypass is preferable due to the simplicity and quickness of performing.

superior mesenteric artery syndrome, children, aorto-mesenteric compression of the duodenum, chronic duodenal obstruction

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