Outcomes of endovascular interventional therapy for primary Budd-Chiari syndrome caused by hepatic venous obstruction

Stenting of Inferior Right Hepatic Vein in a Patient with Budd-Chiari Syndrome: A Case Report

A Japanese man in his 20s was referred to our hospital with a two-month history of abdominal fullness and leg edema. Abdominal computed tomography revealing massive ascites and ostial blockage of the main hepatic veins, and angiographic evaluation demonstrating obstruction of the main hepatic veins yielded a diagnosis of Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS). Diuretic agents were prescribed for the ascites but failed to provide relief. The patient was referred to our department for further evaluation and treatment. Angiography showed ostial obstruction of the main hepatic veins, with most of the portal hepatic flow draining from an inferior right hepatic vein (IRHV) into the inferior vena cava (IVC) thorough an intrahepatic portal venous and venovenous shunt. Access between the main hepatic veins and IVC was impossible, but cannulation between the IRHV and IVC was achieved. Because of the venovenous connection between the main hepatic vein and the IRHV, metallic stents were placed into two IRHVs to decrease congestion in the hepatic venous outflow. After stent placement followed by balloon expansion, the gradient pressure between the hepatic vein and IVC improved remarkably. The ascites and lower leg edema improved postoperatively, and long-term stent patency (6 years) was achieved.

Survival and clinical success of endovascular intervention in patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome: A systematic review

Budd-Chiari syndrome is a complex clinical disorder of hepatic venous outflow obstruction, originating from the accessory hepatic vein (HV), large HV, and suprahepatic inferior vena cava (IVC). This disorder includes both HV and IVC obstructions and hepatopathy. This study aimed to conduct a systematic review of the survival rate and clinical success of different types of endovascular treatments for Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS). All participant studies were retrieved from four databases and selected according to the eligibility criteria for systematic review of patients with BCS. The survival rate, clinical success of endovascular treatments in BCS, and survival rates at 1 and 5 years of publication year were calculated accordingly. A total of 3398 patients underwent an endovascular operation; among them, 93.6% showed clinical improvement after initial endovascular treatment. The median clinical success rates for recanalization, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS), and combined procedures were 51%, 17.50%, and 52.50%, respectively. The median survival rates at 1 and 5 years were 51% and 51% for recanalization, 17.50% and 16% for TIPS, and 52.50% and 49.50% for combined treatment, respectively. Based on the year of publication, the median survival rates at 1 and 5 years were 23.50% and 22.50% before 2000, 41% and 41% in 2000‒2005, 35% and 35% in 2006‒2010, 51% and 48.50% in 2010‒2015, and 56% and 55.50% after 2015, respectively. Our findings indicate that the median survival rate at 1 and 5 years of recanalization treatment is higher than that of TIPS treatment, and recanalization provides better clinical improvement. The publication year findings strongly suggest progressive improvements in interventional endovascular therapy for BCS. Thus, interventional therapy restoring the physiologic hepatic venous outflow of the liver can be considered as the treatment of choice for patients with BCS which is a physiological modification procedure.

The change in the liver volume after direct intrahepatic portocaval shunt in patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome with diffuse hepatic vein occlusion

PURPOSE

To evaluate the changes in the liver volume and function after direct intrahepatic portocaval shunt (DIPS) in patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) with diffuse hepatic vein (HV) occlusion.

METHODS

The clinical data of 29 patients with BCS who underwent DIPS for intractable ascites caused by diffuse hepatic vein occlusion in the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University were analysed retrospectively; the patients included 8 males and 21 females, with an average age of 33.3 ± 6.3 years. The patients underwent abdominal CT scanning and liver function examinations before DIPS, and 1 week, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months after DIPS. The changes of the liver volume and liver function before and after DIPS were compared.

RESULTS

All 29 patients underwent DIPS successfully. 28 patients survived during the follow-up of 12-33 months, with a median follow-up of 16 months. The patients' liver function were significantly improved at 3, 6 and 12 months after the operation compared to before the operation (P < 0.05). The liver volumes measured before the operation and 1 week, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months after the operation were 2124.586 ± 420.889 cm³, 1926.263 ± 372.268 cm³, 1480.592 ± 183.061 cm³, 1461.904 ± 153.027 cm³ and 1469.286 ± 148.549 cm³, respectively. Compared with the preoperative liver volume, the liver volume had decreased significantly at 1 week, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months after the operation (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the liver volumes at 6 and 12 months after the operation (P = 0.35).

CONCLUSIONS

Direct intrahepatic portocaval shunt has achieved satisfactory clinical results in the treatment of BCS with diffuse hepatic vein occlusion. The congestive hepatomegaly was gradually reduced after the operation. The liver volume (which was defined as the clinical efficacy in this study) remained stable after 6 months.

Evaluation of outcome from endovascular therapy for Budd-Chiari syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis

This study was performed to evaluate the outcome of endovascular intervention therapy for Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) and compare recanalization, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS)/direct intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (DIPS), and combined procedure treatment. For the meta-analysis, 71 studies were identified by searching four databases. The individual studies’ samples were used to calculate a confidence interval (CI 95%), and data were pooled using a fixed-effect model and random effect model. The pooled measure and an equal-weighted average rate were calculated in all participant studies. Heterogeneity between the studies was assessed with I², and T² tests, and publication bias was estimated using Egger’s regression test. A total of 4,407 BCS patients had undergone an endovascular intervention procedure. The pooled results were 98.9% (95% CI 97.8‒98.9%) for a technical success operation, and 96.9% (95% CI 94.9‒98.9%) for a clinical success operation. The re-intervention rate after the initial intervention procedure was 18.9% (95% CI 14.7‒22.9%), and the survival rates at 1 and 5 years after the initial intervention procedure were 98.9% (95% CI 96.8‒98.9%) and 94.9% (95% CI 92.9‒96.9%), respectively. Patients receiving recanalization treatment (98%) had a better prognosis than those with a combined procedure (95.6%) and TIPS/DIPS treatment (94.5%). The systematic review and meta-analysis further solidify the role of endovascular intervention treatment in BCS as safe and effective. It maintains high technical and clinical success and long-term survival rates. The recanalization treatment had a better prognosis and outcome than the combined procedures and TIPS/DIPS treatment.

Budd-Chiari syndrome due to hepatic venous web outflow obstruction: percutaneous treatment with balloon angioplasty

The Budd-Chiari syndrome is a rare hepatic venous disease. It is more prevalent in young adults and may present in acute, subacute, or chronic forms, causing portal hypertension. Traditional treatment consists of thrombolysis techniques and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, as a bridge to liver transplantation. Recently, use of balloon or stent angioplasty techniques has been reported for treatment of this condition. In this article, we report and discuss a case of BCS by membranous obstruction in the hepatic vein outflow tract, with middle hepatic vein thrombosis, in a 24-year-old patient. The treatment chosen and employed was transjugular balloon angioplasty, which achieved satisfactory results and good clinical evolution.

Budd-Chiari syndrome: consensus guidance of the Asian Pacific Association for the study of the liver (APASL)

Budd Chiari syndrome (BCS) is a diverse disease with regard to the site of obstruction, the predisposing thrombophilic disorders and clinical presentation across the Asia-Pacific region. The hepatic vein ostial stenosis and short segment thrombosis are common in some parts of Asia-Pacific region, while membranous obstruction of the vena cava is common in some and complete thrombosis of hepatic veins in others. Prevalence of myeloproliferative neoplasms and other thrombophilic disorders in BCS varies from region to region and with different sites of obstruction. This heterogeneity also raises several issues and dilemmas in evaluation and approach to management of a patient with BCS. The opportunity to recanalize hepatic vein in patients with hepatic vein ostial stenosis or inferior vena cava stenting or pasty among those membranous obstruction of the vena cava is a unique opportunity in the Asia-Pacific region to restore hepatic outflow closely mimicking physiology. In order to address these issues arising out of the diversity as well as the unique features in the region, the Asia Pacific Association for Study of Liver has formulated these guidelines for clinicians.

Restenosis after recanalization for Budd-Chiari syndrome: Management and long-term results of 60 patients

BACKGROUND

Budd-Chiari syndrome is defined as hepatic venous outflow tract obstruction. For Asian Budd-Chiari syndrome patients, the major treatment modality is recanalization (percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with or without stent implantation). The cumulative 1-, 5-, and 10-year primary patency rates and survival rates are reported to be excellent or satisfactory, but the long-term outcome of patients with restenosis (the most common complication after recanalization) is unknown.

AIM

To explore the treatment strategy for restenosis in patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome after interventional therapy and to evaluate the long-term follow-up results.

METHODS

The clinical data and follow-up results of 60 patients with restenosis after interventional therapy from November 1983 to December 2013 were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

Sixty patients with restenosis were retrospectively divided into a percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) group (40 patients) and a PTA + stent group (20 patients) according to the primary recanalization method. For the patients with restenosis in the PTA group, 13 refused treatment, and 27 received further treatment; among these patients, five had a second restenosis, two had a third restenosis, and one had a fourth restenosis. For the patients with restenosis in the PTA + stent group, nine refused treatment, ten received PTA alone, and the other received PTA + stent implantation. Among the patients who received further treatment, five had a second restenosis, three had a third restenosis, and one had a fourth restenosis. The 1-, 5-, 10-, 20-, and 25-year cumulative survival rates of the 38 patients who received further treatment after restenosis were 100%, 78.3%, 78.3%, 70.5%, and 70.5%, respectively; however, for the 22 patients who refused treatment, the survival rates were 72.7%, 45.9%, 30.6%, 10.2%, and unavailable, respectively (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Long-term follow-up after interventional therapy is very important. Active treatment for patients with restenosis can improve prognosis, and minimally invasive treatment strategies for restenosis allows to obtain satisfactory results.