Successful Treatment by Percutaneous Balloon Angioplasty of Budd-Chiari Syndrome Caused by Membranous Obstruction of Inferior Ven Cava: 8-Year Follow-Up Study

Objectives. This study sought to report the long-term result (up to 8 years) of percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty (PTBA) for Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) caused by membranous obstruction of the inferior ven cav (MOVC). Background. We previously reported on this nonoperative form of therapy in smaller series of patients and found the short-term results to be excellent. Methods. We studied the long-term results of PTB in the treatment of BCS caused by MOVC in 42 patients who underwent PTB with the Inoue balloon catheter between June 1988 and February 1996. There were 28 men and 14 women with mean age of 35.6 years (range 16 to 56). MOVC was incomplete in 27 patients and complete in 15. PTB was successful in 38 patients (91%). The longest follow-up period was 8 years. Results. All 38 patients who successfully underwent PTB showed marked symptomatic improvement. Immediately after PTBA, the diameter of the inferior ven cav at the MOVC increased from 1.7 ± 2 to 19.9 ± 3.5 mm (p < 0.0001), the caval pressure below the MOVC decreased from 23.6 ± 8.5 to 12.0 ± 6.5 mm Hg (p < 0.0001), and the enlarged liver size decreased from 6.5 ± 1.5 to 2.0 ± 1.5 cm below the right costal margin at the midclavicular line (p < 0.0001). Over follow-up period of up to 8 years (7 to 8 years in 4 patients, 5 to 7 years in 12, 3 to 5 years in 11, 2 to 3 years in 6 and <2 years in 9), MOVC returned in only 1 patient. This patient, our first, required second PTB 3 years later and third 4.25 years after the second PTBA, in combination with stent placement for recurrence of stenosis. Conclusions. PTB with the Inoue balloon catheter is an effective, safe and long-lasting alternative to surgical treatment of patients with BCS due to MOVC.