Coeliac Axis Stenosis

Eleven cases of coeliac axis stenosis were operated on during 1966 to 1969. Each patient complained of persistent abdominal pain and loss of weight and investigation for carcinoma proved negative. Auscultation revealed the presence of an epigastric bruit and aortography demonstrated stenosis of the coeliac axis in each case with additional stenosis of the superior mesenteric artery in 3 patients. Operative findings showed that constriction was caused by the median arcuate ligament of the diaphragm in seven cases and by periarterial fibrosis in 4. Operative division of the constricting agent gave complete relief in 9 patients and improvement in 1, the other being unchanged.