A case report of superior mesenteric artery syndrome after hand-assisted laparoscopic left nephrectomy

A 65-year-old man with left renal cell carcinoma RCC underwent hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy. He was discharged on the 8th hospital day, but 2 days later he was admitted to the hospital again because of vomiting and abdominal pain. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed a narrow space between the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and aorta as well as distension of the proximal duodenum. Upper gastrointestinal radiographic studies with gastrografin showed abrupt vertical cut-off sign of the third part of the duodenum. Therefore, we diagnosed SMA syndrome. We started conservative management by nasogastric tube and total parenteral nutrition through a central venous line. The patient was able to eat on day 24 and was discharged on day 34 after the treatment. SMA syndrome is considered as a postoperative complication after abdominal surgery, but it is extremely rare. To our knowledge, only 4 cases of SMA syndrome following nephrectomy have been reported and this is the first case of SMA syndrome following laparoscopic nephrectomy.