Fifteen patients were operated on for compression of the celiac artery with division of the median arcuate ligament. Initially most patients were released from their preoperative abdominal pain. At follow-up after 1 1/2-9 1/2 years only two patients were asymptomatic. Our results corroborate the nonentity of the celiac compression syndrome. The existence and identification of a subgroup of patients with symptomatic compression of the celiac artery is discussed.