Superior mesenteric artery syndrome after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for colon cancer associated with ulcerative colitis: report of a case

Superior mesenteric artery syndrome (SMAS) after a surgical operation is very rare. We experienced an extremely rare case of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis with subsequent development of SMAS requiring duodenojejunostomy. A 74-year-old Asian woman underwent total colectomy, ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (J-pouch), covering ileostomy, splenectomy, and distal pancreatectomy for treatment of descending colon cancer associated with ulcerative colitis. She complained of abdominal discomfort and vomiting 17 days postoperatively. Computed tomography (CT) revealed fluid collection at the pancreatic stump. We diagnosed a pancreatic fistula and performed CT-guided drainage. SMAS was thereafter diagnosed by contrast-enhanced CT, which revealed a narrow aortomesenteric angle of 36° and short aortomesenteric distance of 2 mm. The SMAS did not respond to conservative therapy. Finally, we performed duodenojejunostomy. This case illustrates that ileal pouch-anal anastomosis might induce relative stretching of the superior mesenteric artery and flatten it against the aorta, resulting in SMAS.