Treatment of Budd-Chiari syndrome with inferior vena caval occlusion by mesoatrial shunt.

OBJECTIVE

To report the effectiveness of a mesoatrial shunt in the treatment of Budd-Chiari syndrome caused by combined hepatic vein and inferior vena caval block.

DESIGN

Retrospective study.

SETTING

Tertiary care hospital, India.

PATIENTS: 10 patients (4 men and 6 women; mean age 28, range 18-45) who had operations for Budd-Chiari syndrome between 1994 and 2000.

INTERVENTION: Mesoatrial shunt.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Graft patency, survival, liver function and symptoms.

RESULTS

One patient died. All grafts were patent over a mean follow up period of 40 months (range 6-71). All survivors have normal liver function and were symptom free at the time of writing.

CONCLUSION

Mesoatrial shunt is effective in the treatment of Budd-Chiari syndrome caused by combined hepatic vein and vena caval occlusion.