A Case of Intractable Vomiting: Was It the Celiac Artery Compression?

Cureus. 2022 Feb 22;14(2):e22483. doi: 10.7759/cureus.22483. eCollection 2022 Feb.

Abstract

Celiac artery compression syndrome is a rare and poorly understood condition. Compression of the celiac artery by the median arcuate ligament causes intractable nausea, vomiting, and postprandial pain. We present a case of a 55-year-old male with a 50-pound unintentional weight loss and intractable vomiting, whose symptoms persisted despite robotic median arcuate ligament release. He later returned to the emergency department where he was found to have a low gallbladder ejection fraction on imaging indicative of biliary dyskinesia, for which he underwent a cholecystectomy. Eventually, his symptoms improved, and he was able to return to his baseline body weight.

Keywords: celiac artery compression; celiac artery compression syndrome; celiac axis syndrome; chronic cholecystitis; dunbar syndrome; intractable vomiting; medial arcuate ligament.

Publication types

  • Case Reports