Video - Nutcracker syndrome

Nutcracker syndrome is a condition in which the left renal vein is squeezed between the superior mesenteric artery and the aorta, due to a narrow aortomesenteric angle. This results in increased pressure in the left renal vein, which can lead to hematuria and flank pain as well as a left-sided varicocele in people with testicles.

Nutcracker syndrome is diagnosed with imaging tests such as ultrasound or CT scan. The treatment may simply be weight gain, because as the mesenteric fat pad gets fatter, it widens the aortomesenteric angle, thus relieving the compression on the left renal vein. Sometimes surgery is the best treatment option to relieve the compression on the left renal vein.