Feasibility and midterm outcomes of percutaneous transhepatic ...

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the feasibility and outcomes of percutaneous transhepatic balloon angioplasty (PTBA) of the hepatic vein in the management of Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) secondary to hepatic venous outflow obstruction. METHODS: From September 1996 to October 2008, 101 patients (52 males, 49 females) with BCS secondary to occlusion of the hepatic veins were prospectively treated using PTBA of the hepatic vein. Average age was 31.3 years (range, 15-57 years). Nineteen had concurrent inferior vena cava (IVC) obstruction. All the patients presented with symptomatic portal hypertension. PTBA, with or without stenting, was performed after hepatovenography. RESULTS: PTBA was successfully performed in 92 of the 101 patients. Sixty-eight patients underwent PTBA of right hepatic vein, followed by stent placement in two. PTBA was performed in 11 patients with left hepatic vein occlusion and in 13 patients with dominant accessory hepatic vein occlusion. The technical success rate was 92 of 101 (91%). Hepatic venous pressure was significantly decreased after balloon angioplasty/stenting (P < .01, paired t test). Symptoms were significantly improved in the 92 patients who had successful PTBA. Three patients had acute hepatic vein thrombosis during or after PTBA. Two patients sustained intraperitoneal bleeding from the transhepatic puncture track, and one had intrahepatic hematoma. Pulmonary embolism developed in one patient during the operation. All complications were managed nonoperatively. There were no perioperative deaths. Within 1 year, 74 of the 101 patients returned for follow-up, and 51 patients had follow-up at 2 years. The primary patency rates were 84% (62 of 74), 78% (58 of 74), and 76% (39 or 51) at 6, 12, and 24 months after PTBA, respectively. The secondary patency rates were 95% (70 of 74), 92% (68 of 74), and 84% (43 of 51) at 6, 12, and 24 months. CONCLUSIONS: PTBA of the hepatic vein is a safe and effective treatment of BCS. It is currently the most physiologic procedure, and the risk of postoperative encephalopathy is minimized because portal flow is not diverted. Midterm outcomes are satisfactory. Further investigation of the long-term outcomes is needed.