Robotic Surgery in the Treatment of Combined Wilkie’s and Dunbar’s Syndromes: A Case Report

TL;DR

This paper presents a rare case where robotic surgery was used to treat two combined gastrointestinal conditions, showing the effectiveness of minimally invasive techniques.

Contribution

The study demonstrates the technical feasibility of using robotic surgery for combined vascular and duodenal decompression in a rare clinical scenario.

Findings

Robot-assisted decompression of the celiac trunk and duodenum was successfully performed using the da Vinci Xi system.

The minimally invasive approach allowed precise dissection in complex anatomical spaces.

This case highlights a novel surgical strategy for managing concurrent SMA and celiac artery compression syndromes.

Abstract

In clinical practice, the coexistence of Superior Mesenteric Artery (SMA) syndrome (also known as Wilkie’s syndrome) and Celiac Artery Compression Syndrome (also referred to as Dunbar’s syndrome) is extremely rare. This combined pathology is characterized by simultaneous impairment of blood flow in the celiac trunk and compression of the duodenum, which complicates both diagnosis and treatment strategy selection. Traditional open surgical correction is associated with significant invasiveness due to the complexity of the anatomical relationships involved. Minimally invasive approaches, including robot-assisted surgery, allow precise dissection within confined anatomical spaces. This article presents a clinical case of simultaneous robot-assisted decompression of the celiac trunk and duodenum using the da Vinci Xi system. The case demonstrates the technical feasibility of a combined minimally invasive approach for the management of concurrent vascular and duodenal compression.

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