Endovascular treatment of Budd-Chiari syndrome with hepatic vein obstruction in China.

UNLABELLED: Abstract Purpose: To evaluate characteristics of obstructions of the hepatic veins (HVs) in Chinese patients, technical aspects of puncture of the HVs, short- and mid-term outcomes, and complications of endovascular treatment.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Forty-eight HV patients with different degrees of symptoms and signs of portal hypertension were enrolled in our study. Endovascular treatments with balloon and stents were performed. Catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) was performed in patients with thrombosis in the HVs. For patients with lesions of both the HVs and the inferior vena cava (IVC), balloon expansions or stenting were performed at the IVC lesions also.

RESULTS

Endovascular treatments were successful in 43 patients. The technically success rate was 89.6% (43/48). Fifteen patients underwent solely balloon expansions, 28 patients had balloon expansions and stentings, 5 patients underwent CDT, and 3 patients had implanted stents in the IVC lesions at the same time. The symptoms of portal hypertension were alleviated in 39 patients postoperatively. In the other 4 cases portal hypertension was mildly alleviated at discharge. Thirty-nine of the 43 patients were followed up for an average of 24±1.3 months (range, 6-62 months). Ascites were completely resolved in 32 cases, with a small amount of ascites in 4 patients and moderate to massive amounts in 3 patients. Hepatomegaly and splenomegaly completely disappeared in 30 patients and still could be touched in 6 patients. The HVs were patent in 29 patients. Restenosis and re-occlusion of the HVs appeared in 4 cases. All patients were successfully treated by endovascular treatments.

CONCLUSIONS

Endovascular treatments for patients with obstruction of the HVs have a high technical success rate, fewer complications, and better short- and mid-term clinical outcome. The key to successful endovascular treatment is successful puncture of HVs. For patients who have occlusive lesions of HVs combined with occlusive IVC, recanalization of the lesions of the HVs could achieve good results.