Compression Syndromes

When we speak of a compression syndrome, we are talking about the constriction of the veins, arteries, intestines or nerves. The localization of these syndromes is between the diaphragm and the inguinal ligament. The causes of this syndrome are assumed to be genetic predispositions and physical constitution of the patient. The occurrence of symptoms can be continuous, but also sporadic.

Symptoms of compression syndromes

Symptoms of compression syndrome can manifest in many ways. Patients complain of the following symptoms:

Depending on the radiation and localization of the complaints, the compression syndromes are assigned to their corresponding, specific classifications.

Misdiagnosis of compression syndromes

Unfortunately, due to the multitude of symptoms, incorrect diagnoses are often made regarding the cause of the presenting complaints. Among the incorrectly diagnosed conditions are:

Surgical treatment of compression syndromes

In our private clinic we offer our patients the surgical treatment of various compression syndromes. The analytical assessment of the present complaints and the subsequent consultation as well as surgery is performed by our expert for vascular surgery and compression syndromes Professor Dr. med. Sandmann. If you suffer from the above-mentioned complaints, or are already undergoing therapy and another clinical picture has been diagnosed as the cause, we will enable you to obtain a second opinion at our clinic. In an operation, the existing compressions are removed and the patient’s stability is restored.

The surgical measures differ depending on the syndrome:
DUNBAR syndrome

Partial removal (resection) of the annular ligament (ligamentum arcuatum). Cutting the ligament alone is not sufficient, since tissue that remains can grow back together and thus cause the symptoms to recur.

WILKIE syndrome

In the case of the so-called WILKIE syndrome, a transplantation of the middle intestinal artery (Arteria misenterica superior) according to SANDMANN is the recommended surgical method.

NUSSKNACKER syndrome

For compensation of NUSSKNACKER syndrome, stabilization of the left renal vein by extravascular stent (method according to R. BARNES, in modification according to SANDMANN) is necessary.

MAY-THURNER syndrome

MAY-THURNER syndrome is usually treated by stabilization of the left iliac vein in the form of extravascular stent (method according to SANDMANN).

GOMBERT syndrome

Compression of the lumbar arteries with spinal cord supply (GOMBERT) is also treated surgically by resection (partial removal) of paraaortic tendons.

Abnormalities in patients with compression syndromes

After long observation of affected patients with compression syndromes, a common genetic abnormality has been identified. This abnormality is the so-called hypermobility. This means that the underlying etiology is a hypermobile syndrome (e.g., hypermobile EHLERS-DANLOS syndrome; hypermobile syndrome disorder). It is not uncommon for patients with hypermobility syndrome to be symptomatic of multiple compression syndromes at the same time (for example, MAY-THURNER and NUSSKNACKER, approximately 20 percent). In addition, it should be noted that 80 percent of those affected are female.

Syndromes of compression disorders

Distinctions are made in existing compression syndromes about the respective body region affected:

Prof. Dr. med. Dr. h.c. Wilhelm Sandmann