MALS. Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome

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Welcome

New things being ‘discovered’ all the time – of course so you get to have surgery.
As with acupotomy – do not judge – if this will fix some horrendous issues – maybe needed.
And before that – what is it?
What caused it?
Why them?
What else could be done leading into surgery – and afterwards?
Or INSTEAD OF?

Median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS) occurs when the arc-shaped band of tissue in the chest area (median arcuate ligament) presses on, or traps, the artery that supplies blood to the organs in your upper abdomen (celiac artery).

The location of the median arcuate ligament and celiac artery varies slightly from person to person. Typically, the ligament runs across the largest blood vessel in the body (aorta) and sits above the celiac artery without causing problems. But sometimes the ligament or artery may be out of place, causing MALS. The ligament may also put pressure on the network of nerves surrounding the celiac artery (celiac plexus).

From Wikipedia – In medicine, the median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS, also known as celiac artery compression syndrome, celiac axis syndrome, celiac trunk compression syndrome or Dunbar syndrome) is a rare[1] condition characterized by abdominal pain attributed to compression of the celiac artery and the celiac ganglia by the median arcuate ligament.[2] The abdominal pain may be related to meals, may be accompanied by weight loss, and may be associated with an abdominal bruit heard by a clinician.

‘The diagnosis of MALS is one of exclusion, as many healthy patients demonstrate some degree of celiac artery compression in the absence of symptoms. Consequently, a diagnosis of MALS is typically only entertained after more common conditions have been ruled out. Once suspected, screening for MALS can be done with ultrasonography and confirmed with computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance (MR) angiography.

‘Treatment is generally surgical, the mainstay being open or laparascopic division, or separation, of the median arcuate ligament combined with removal of the celiac ganglia. The majority of patients benefit from surgical intervention. Poorer responses to treatment tend to occur in patients of older age, those with a psychiatric condition or who use alcohol, have abdominal pain unrelated to meals, or who have not experienced weight loss.

MALS may occur in anyone, even children. Other names for MALS are:

  • Celiac artery compression
  • Celiac axis syndrome
  • Dunbar syndrome

Treatment involves surgery to release (decompress) the ligament and restore blood flow through the artery.

Symptoms

Often, compression of the celiac artery doesn’t cause any symptoms. However, those with MALS can have long-term (chronic) stomach pain. Signs and symptoms of MALS include:

  • Pain in the upper middle stomach area, which may go away when leaning forward
  • Stomach pain after eating, exercising or shifting body position
  • Fear of eating food due to pain, leading to significant weight loss — usually greater than 20 pounds (9.1 kilograms)
  • Bloating
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Diarrhea

Your doctor may hear an abnormal sound called a bruit when listening to your upper stomach area with a stethoscope. The sound occurs when a blood vessel is blocked or narrowed.

Risk factors – Because the cause of MALS is poorly understood, the risk factors for the syndrome are unclear. MALS has been seen in children, even twins, which might mean genetics plays a role. Some people have developed MALS after pancreatic surgery and blunt injury to the upper stomach area.

Complications – MALS complications include long-term pain, especially after meals, which can lead to a fear of eating and significant weight loss. The pain and related depression or anxiety can greatly impact your quality of life. Because MALS symptoms may be vague and mimic other conditions, it may take some time to get an accurate diagnosis.

Sounds like Stuck Liver Qi Release needed – and all the belly work we do.
This occasionally (as is SLQ) results in endo and pelvic pain . . . and going to the cause will be the way out – not medically playing with each new’ body eruption fo tringto get resolution through reminding you of trouble .