Superior mesenteric artery syndrome in a basic military trainee.
We present the case of a 19-year-old woman with feeding intolerance, due to superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome, after weight loss experienced during basic military training. She had previous good health and presented with vomiting 8 weeks after starting military training. She had experienced a 16-pound (7 kg) weight loss during the course of training and was increasingly unable to tolerate meals, solids worse than liquids. Computed tomography of the abdomen with oral contrast revealed gastric and duodenal distention, with narrowing of the second portion of the duodenum at the SMA. A nasojejunal feeding tube was placed and she was given tube feedings. Weight increased and she eventually tolerated oral feedings. She completed military training and remains in good health. SMA syndrome is a rare cause of feeding intolerance, but can follow periods of acute weight loss, as is experienced by some basic military trainees.
Anderson
Christopher M
CM
Department of Surgery, Wilford Hall Medical Center, 59 MDW, 2200 Bergquist Avenue, Suite 1/MCSG, Lackland AFB, TX 78236, USA.
Dalrymple
Monica A
MA
Podberesky
Daniel J
DJ
Coppola
Christopher P
CP
D000328:Adult; D004378:Duodenal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008887:Military Medicine; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000193:education; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D013478:Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D014481:United States; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology