Wilkie's Syndrome: A Rare Clinical Case of Frailty Cachexia

Superior mesenteric artery syndrome (SMAS) or Wilkie's syndrome is a rare cause of gastrointestinal obstruction due to a compression of the duodenum between the superior mesenteric artery and the aorta, typically following significant weight loss, occurring more frequently in young women. We report a case of a 92-year-old female patient who presented with abdominal pain and vomiting associated with an unexplained weight loss in the last weeks. SMAS was diagnosed by computerized tomography, and conservative measures were taken, with the patient eventually dying. The outcome of this clinical case emphasizes the necessity of an early diagnosis and the need for an increasing awareness, mainly in patients with significant weight loss in order to prevent adverse outcomes.