Nutcracker Syndrome Combined with Wilkie Syndrome: Case Report

Abstract

Objective: to describe the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and surgical treatment of a patient with superior mesenteric artery syndrome or Wilkie syndrome combined with the nutcracker syndrome or left renal vein compression syndrome in a tertiary referral center in a Latin American country.

Case description: a 25-year-old male patient from the United States who attended for a year of weight loss and intestinal obstruction episodes of unknown etiology after multiple imaging studies. Endoscopic studies were performed without findings. While in the recovery room, he developed abdominal pain requiring admission to the emergency service. The CT enterography showed dilation of the colon loops and small intestine with a decrease of the aortomesenteric (AOM) angle and the gastrointestinal series with the filiform passage of the contrast medium. Conservative management was attempted as initial therapy with intolerance to enteric nutritional support. Finally, we initially opted for surgical treatment, with a slow recovery process, but in the end, with a resolution of symptoms and weight gain.

Conclusion: Wilkie syndrome is a rare disease and a diagnostic challenge in patients with weight loss and abdominal pain. We described a superior mesenteric artery compression case in which diagnosis was achieved with multiple diagnostic strategies and complete resolution after surgical treatment. The decreased aortomesenteric angle may compress the superior mesenteric artery and the left renal vein. In this case, it resulted in a combined Wilkie and nutcracker syndrome.