CELIAC AXIS SYNDROME - ABDOMINAL ANGINA CAUSED BY EXTERNAL COMPRESSION OF CELIAC ARTERY

Stenosis of the celiac axis from extra-arterial causes, an epigastric systolic bruit, and postprandial epigastric pain constitute a symptom complex which may be called the celiac axis syndrome. Stenosis may be caused either by the margin of the aortic hiatus pressing the celiac axis against the aorta by the fibrotic celiac ganglion constricting the celiac artery in a ringlike manner, or by a combination of both. In this series of thirteen patients, nine became asymptomatic, three had mild epigastric pain, and one failed to improve after dissection of the constricting tissue. No other intervention was necessary to free the celiac axis. The symptoms, diagnosis, pathophysiology, therapy, and cause of celiac axis syndrome are discussed. Auscultation of the epigastrium is recommended when the complaint is upper abdominal pain of uncertain origin, and celiac axis syndrome should be considered when there is an audible bruit. © 1968.