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.
