Tags: Disease.
Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome is a very rare life-threatening gastro-vascular disorder characterized by a compression of the third portion of the duodenum by the abdominal aorta (AA) and the overlying superior mesenteric artery. The syndrome is typically caused by an angle of 6°-25° between the AA and the SMA in comparison to the normal range of 38°-56° due to a lack of retroperitoneal and visceral fat.
