title: Hepatic vein occlusion (Budd-Chiari syndrome): problems in diagnosis and management.
abstract: Seven patients demonstrating the difficulties in diagnosis and management of hepatic vein occlusion are presented. The syndrome may present in an acute form with upper abdominal pain, abdominal swelling, ascites and tender hepatomegaly or in a chronic form, mimicking cirrhotic ascites. The clinical features, predisposing factors, liver scan and liver biopsy may all suggest the condition, but hepatic venography is essential for diagnosis and as a preliminary to treatment. It is suggested that early side to side portacaval anastomosis is the current treatment of choice.
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Breen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Buttigieg
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Desmond
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Whelan
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gilford
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D006502:Budd-Chiari Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006503:Hepatic Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011167:Portacaval Shunt, Surgical; D011859:Radiography