Interposition mesocaval shunt for chronic primary occlusion of the hepatic veins

Five patients with primitive chronic Budd-Chiari syndrome were treated by Dacron interposed mesocaval shunts for medically uncontrollable ascites. In two instances, hepatomegaly and ascites disappeared for four and four and one-half years. In one patient with severe stenosis of the inferior vena cava, moderate ascites required tapping once a month one year later, despite proved prosthesis patency. In two patients, death occurred ten and 30 days after shunting due to thrombosis of the graft. Inferior vena cava stenosis appears to be the major factor for decision of opportunity and type of portacaval shunt. From our material, we can describe three types of stenosis: type I, due to caudate lobe hypertrophy, and type II, due to right lobe hypertrophy, are suitable for side-by-side portacaval or mesocaval shunts. Type III, regular and extended narrowing of inferior vena cava, observed in long term evolutive forms, is presumably due to fibrosis and is not a good indication for conventional infrahepatic shunting procedures. Since this study was completed, another patient had a side-to-side portacaval anastomosis for chronic Budd-Chiari syndrome without caval stenosis. The patient has been observed for seven months, and ascites did not reappear. This underlines the importance of a complete radiologic and hemodynamic preoperative study of inferior vena cava outflow impairment.