At CardioVascular Health Clinic, your heart health is our top priority.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with MALS disease or is experiencing symptoms consistent with this condition, it is vital to get evaluated and understand your options for effective and timely treatment.
Median arcuate ligament symptom is a rare disease that often goes undiagnosed for years due to its effect on the digestive system rather than the cardiovascular one.
While considered rare, the experienced vascular specialists at CardioVascular Health Clinic care for patients with MALS disease weekly, providing comprehensive diagnosis and personalized treatment plans.
Let’s discuss median arcuate ligament syndrome in more detail, including what it is, common symptoms, and effective treatment options necessary to take care of the disease and prevent the progression of symptoms.
MALS disease, or median arcuate ligament syndrome, is a congenital anatomic anomaly often present at birth. In some instances, it may also present after abdominal surgery or trauma.
Although present at birth, there are no known ties to genetics. Therefore, the root cause of MALS syndrome is still widely unknown.
Median arcuate ligament syndrome occurs when the arc-shaped band of tissue in the chest area (median arcuate ligament) presses on the artery that sends blood to the upper abdomen. This artery is called the celiac artery.
When this occurs, it gives rise to three important arteries in the spleen, stomach, and liver and impairs adequate blood flow to the liver, stomach, and other organs.
Although MALS syndrome is present at birth, symptoms typically don’t manifest until puberty.
The most common symptom of MALS disease is abdominal pain above the bellybutton that can be as painful as and similar to appendicitis, which often worsens after eating.
Other symptoms include
Because of its rarity, MALS disease is not widely understood, taught, or published about in medical journals. Its rare nature makes it difficult to pinpoint and diagnose, so working with a vascular specialist is essential to understand this cardiovascular condition.
Most patients have extensive GI workups due to the disease's abdominal symptoms. Testing may include
If no GI issues are noted, doctors often follow a process of elimination approach to exclude other conditions.
At CardioVascular Health Clinic, our team of vascular specialists may perform any of the following to verify and confirm a MALS disease diagnosis:
The only effective treatment for MALS disease is surgery. Without treatment, disease progression may worsen.
The most common treatment option is median arcuate ligament release or decompression. This open surgery splits the median arcuate ligament and network of nerves in the stomach.
This surgery
Sometimes, patients may also need revascularization surgery to repair or replace a blocked celiac artery.
It is important to understand that MALS disease treatment often involves an all-hands-on-deck approach from a group of doctors to effectively care for the patient in all aspects of their health and healing journey.
Physicians can include those that specialize in
We support a patient’s primary care doctor and other specialists in diagnosing and treating this condition at all stages of the disease and care plan.
The experienced team at CardioVascular Health Clinic specializes in treating cardiovascular conditions like MALS disease. We proudly remain at the forefront of innovative technology to deliver the highest quality of care.
Don’t wait another day to take charge of your heart health; call CardioVascular Health Clinic today at (405) 701-9880 or contact us to schedule an appointment.
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