Budd-Chiari syndrome. Report of a case, successfully treated with a meso-caval shunt.

A young woman with the Budd-Chiari syndrome is described. About 2 months after the onset of her illness, a mesocaval shunt with a 14-mm Gore-Tex prosthesis was performed. She recovered rapidly after the operation and returned to work 5 weeks postoperatively. Two years after the operation, hepatic veins were clearly visualized by ultrasound. The impact of early portosystemic shunting on prognosis in these cases is discussed and the value of modern ultrasonography is emphasized.