title: Percutaneous balloon angioplasty of membranous obstruction of the inferior vena cava.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Membranous obstruction of the inferior vena cava is common in African and Asian countries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between January 1999 and January 2002, 19 patients were prospectively studied. The mean age of the patients was 38+/-6.9 years. All of them had swelling of the abdomen and ankle edema. Five patients (26.3%) had jaundice, 9 (47.3%) had hepatomegaly, and 5 (26.3%) splenomegaly. Ultrasonography could detect the site of obstruction in 18 patients (94.7%). Vena cavography demonstrated obstruction of the inferior vena cava at the level of the diaphragm, with 2 patients (10.5%) having additional intrahepatic obstruction. The mean pressure gradient was 22+/-3.5 mmHg. Seventeen patients underwent balloon angioplasty using a Joseph balloon. The procedure was successful in 15 patients (88.2%). The post-angioplasty mean pressure gradient was 5+/-1.4 mmHg. On follow-up, 3 patients (20%) developed features of restenosis: out of them, 2 underwent successful redilatation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Balloon angioplasty of membranous obstruction of the inferior vena cava is feasible with a high success rate, without any rupture of the inferior vena cava.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, SCB Medical College, Cuttack, Orissa.
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Routray
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Behera
authors.forename: U K
authors.initials: UK
authors.lastname: Patnaik
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Satapathy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D006502:Budd-Chiari Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*