Ultrasonically guided percutaneous transhepatic hepatic vein stent placement for Budd-Chiari syndrome

To evaluate the utility of ultrasonically guided hepatic vein stent placement in the treatment of Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) in patients with short hepatic vein obstruction.

Twenty-five patients with BCS, each with three obstructed hepatic veins diagnosed with ultrasound (US), color Doppler, probing with guide wire, and echo contrast, underwent hepatic vein stent placement under US guidance. Nine patients had hepatic vein obstruction alone, and 16 had hepatic vein obstruction along with primary inferior vena cava (IVC) obstruction. In each patient, only one of the hepatic veins was selected for recanalization and stent placement. In patients with primary IVC lesions, a stent was placed in the IVC first. Clinical and US examinations were performed at 3-6-month intervals on every patient during follow-up.

Hepatic vein stents were successfully placed in 23 of the 25 patients, a success rate of 92%. The mean +/- SD hepatic vein pressure decreased from 25.57 mm Hg +/- 9.46 to 9.67 mm Hg +/- 2.31 (P < .01), and the flow direction in the hepatic vein became centripetal and its spectral analysis showed a normal phasic flow. Twenty-two patients experienced a significant improvement in hepatic outflow, as evidenced by disappearance of ascites, remission of hepatosplenomegaly, improvement in liver function, and alleviation of esophageal varices. Severe intraperitoneal hemorrhage occurred in one patient. No other serious procedure-related complications were observed. During follow-up of 1-43 months (mean, 23 months), stent reocclusion occurred in one patient. The other stents remained patent, and clinical features of BCS did not recur.

Percutaneous transhepatic hepatic vein stent placement is a reasonable treatment for BCS in patients with hepatic vein obstruction, and the procedures can be performed safely and accurately with US.