A case of superior mesenteric artery syndrome after left hemicolectomy for descending colon cancer

A 58-year-old man was diagnosed as having descending colon cancer and underwent a left colectomy with D3 node dissection and end-to-end anastomosis reconstruction. The accessory middle colic artery was secured as a feeding artery, and the middle colic artery was preserved. Diet was started on postoperative day 5 (POD5), and nausea and vomiting appeared on POD10. An upper gastrointestinal series revealed to-and-fro peristalsis in the third portion of the duodenum and dilatation of the proximal duodenum. Abdominal CT showed that the second portion of the duodenum was markedly dilated and the third portion was compressed by the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). As a result, he was diagnosed with post-operative superior mesenteric artery syndrome (SMAS) and treated with conservative therapy. The symptoms improved with a nasogastric tube, and he started to eat after POD26, followed by a successful outcome.