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

Abstract

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.