Treatment of the Budd-Chiari syndrome by insertion of a wall-stent in the hepatic vein after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty: the necessity of follow-up.
Budd-Chiari syndrome is a rare disease and, with or without treatment, the prognosis is usually poor. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the hepatic vein in Budd-Chiari syndrome is a safe method, although recurrent stenosis makes it necessary to repeat it several times in most cases. Insertion of a wall-stent in the hepatic vein seems to be a more long-lasting treatment. Monitoring the blood flow through the wall-stent every 6 months is important because of the apparent obliteration of the wall-stent by intimal fibrosis of the hepatic vein. Further follow-up investigations of this method are necessary.
Weernink
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Department of Internal Medicine, Medisch Spectrum Twente, Enschede, Netherlands.
Huisman
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AB
van Baarlen
J
J
ten Napel
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CH
D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000379:methods*; D006502:Budd-Chiari Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006503:Hepatic Veins / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D015607:Stents