Checklist vascular compression syndromes
The symptoms listed below are typically found in patients with abdominal vascular compression syndromes. Albeit each symptom may have a variety of causes, it might be helpful to explain their relationship to vascular compressions. Click on the linked symptom to get a more detailed explanation.
In these, frequently chronic and severe symptoms, a functional, quantitative color duplex sonography applying the PixelFlux-technique should be considered to detect or rule out vascular compression syndromes:
Abdomen, Vegetative symptoms Pelvis, Thorax, Head, Back, Legs,
Abdomen
Chronic pain, especially in the upper abdomen, below the sternum
Flank pain – especially on the left side
Pain, increasing after a meal
Inability to eat enough
Problems eating solid food
Sensation of food stuck inside the intestinal tract
Vomiting, belching, bilious vomiting
Changing symptoms when changing body position or posture
Irritable bowel symptoms: constipation alternating with diarrhea
Weakness of gastric and intestinal peristalsis
Enlarged stomach, sometimes extending below the belly button
Persistent nausea, especially when provoked by food intake
Inappetence (loss of appetite / early satiety despite inadequate intake of food )
Severe, unintentional weight loss
Hemorrhoids / intestinal bleeding (if unexplained after colonoscopy)
Severe gastro-esophageal reflux, if no improvement after gastroscopy and adequate treatment of the common causes occurs
Massive abdominal distension after a meal, bloating
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Vegetative symptoms
Nausea
Dizziness
Palpitations
Sudden, unexpected episodes of diarrhea
Blood pressure fluctuations
Fainting spells
blackouts
Sweats, especially after compressing the upper abdomen
Disturbed intestinal peristalsis
Anorexia
Nausea, belching
Weight loss
Daytime urgency
Headaches
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Pelvis
Menstrual pain
Urinary symptoms
Recurrent painful, burning micturation – after exclusion of an infection
Micro – or macrohematuria – otherwise unexplained
Pain
during sexual intercourse – dyspareunia
after only slight pressure on the lower abdomen
radiating into the genitals
in the perineal region
during bowel movements
when micturating
Unbearable pain below the navel, often right to the midline
Improvement of pain when crouching, curling up , when flexing the hips, when raising the legs while sitting or laying supine
Increased pain when standing, walking or during mental/emotional stress
Pain in the region of the appendix after exclusion of more common causes
Endometriosis pain that does not respond to treatment
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Thorax
Thoracic pain: behind the sternum, in the region of the heart
Difficulties with breathing : inability to inhale deeply
Asthma, which does not respond to asthma therapy
Unexplained attacks of respiratory distress, which might have been classified to be asthma attacks
Sudden palpitations when the patient changes body position or after a meal
Postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS)
Blocked inspiration
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Head
Preliminary note: severe and progressive symptoms should always be presented to a neurologist, ENT specialist, ophthalmologist and radiologist
Chronic headache in chronic abdominal pain
Obstructed nasal inspiration in the morning, which disappears after getting up
Nosebleeds of unknown cause
Migraine
Neck pain, pain that spreads from the neck over the entire skull
Dizziness of unknown cause
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Back
Back pain, especially left sided
Scoliosis
Severe lordosis
Pulsating back pain
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Legs
Weakness and paralysis of the legs – here, of course, primarily neurological and radiological diagnostics are mandatory
Swelling of the legs or feet – left-sided in the begining, later also on the right side
Varices, eft-sided in the begining, later also on the right side
Heaviness
Tingling, numbness – primarily neurological diagnostic mandatory
Thrombosis
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