ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: This study aimed at investigating the feasibility and effectiveness of retrograde puncture assisted hepatic vein (HV) recanalization in management of Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) patients with segmental obstruction of HV. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From May 2011 to August 2014, 76 BCS patients with obstruction of HV were treated by routine transjugular HV recanalization in our center. Among them, 17 patients with segmental obstruction (obstruction length >1 cm) of HV experienced failure of the routine transjugular HV recanalization and underwent retrograde puncture assisted HV recanalization. Data on technical success, clinical success and follow-up were collected and analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Retrograde puncture assisted HV recanalization was technically successful in 14 of 17 (82 %) patients. Of these 14 patients, 12 patients underwent HV balloon dilation, and 2 patients underwent HV stent insertion. No procedure-related complications occurred in any of our patient. Clinical success was achieved in all of the 14 patients who experienced technical success. The mean HV pressure decreased from 43.6 ± 6.7 cmH2O before treatment to 18.4 ± 4.8 cmH2O after treatment (P < 0.001). BCS-related symptoms began to improve on the next day following the treatment. During 4-43 months (mean 17.4 ± 10.8 months) of follow-up, three patients experienced re-obstruction of HV. CONCLUSIONS: Retrograde puncture assisted HV recanalization is a simple, safe, and effective treatment for BCS patients with segmental obstruction of HV. It can serve as an additional treatment option for patients who experience the technical failure of routine transjugular HV recanalization.
