[TIPSS in the Budd-Chiari syndrome with portal vein thrombosis]

A 41-year-old woman, known for 10 month to have polycythaemia vera, developed severe right upper abdominal pain. The abdomen was tense from marked ascites and the liver enlarged by 18 cm in the mid-clavicular line.

Serum bilirubin was slightly elevated to 2.2mg/dl, liver synthesis being much reduced (recalcifying time minimally 23%, albumin minimally 2.8 g/dl). Doppler sonography detected no flow in the right and middle hepatic veins, indicating Budd-Chiari syndrome. Portal vein flow was diminished.

Heparin treatment had to be stopped because of heparin-associated type II thrombocytopenia and hirudin was substituted. Attempted lysis with a total of 100 mg r-tPA failed. As the patient's condition deteriorated a TIPSS was implanted to provide portal decompression. Incomplete portal vein thrombosis was demonstrated and worsened during the procedure until nearly complete occlusion. Local lysis treatment for 2 days with urokinase, 50,000-60,000 U/h, and two shunt revisions finally succeeded in completely dissolving the thrombus. Portocaval pressure fell from 32 to 21 mm Hg, and the size and function of the liver became almost normal and the ascites disappeared. Anticoagulation with a coumarin derivative was started and hydrocarbamide again given for recurrent thrombocytosis. The patient remained largely symptom-free one year after TIPSS.

This case demonstrates the effectiveness of TIPSS in Budd-Chiari syndrome, even in complicated portal vein thrombosis.