title: Percutaneous transhepatic venoplasty: an alternative treatment for Budd-Chiari syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome due to short segment hepatic vein stenosis where percutaenous transluminal venoplasty is not successful, percutaneous transhepatic balloon venoplasty may be a valid treatment option. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the effects of this procedure for the treatment of patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome, in whom transluminal cannulation was unsuccessful.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten patients with short segment occlusion of the hepatic veins were treated by percutaneous transhepatic balloon venoplasty between January 1997 and January 2000. The median follow-up period of these patients was 20 months (2-33 months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The procedure was unsuccessful in two patients. Eight patients (five men, three women) with a median age of 28 (range, 15-61) years were treated by percutaneous transhepatic balloon venoplasty and in seven of them, clinical symptoms including abdominal distension and ascites, resolved completely. Long term anticoagulation therapy was not given to the patients. One patient with advanced stage liver disease died of variceal bleeding two months after the procedure. During follow-up, symptomatic reocclusion requiring dilatation occurred in three patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Percutaneous transhepatic balloon venoplasty is an alternative treatment option for selected patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome when transluminal cannulation of the hepatic veins is not possible. Long term anticoagulation therapy seems to be necessary in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Ankara University School of Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology.
authors.forename: Kadir
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bahar
authors.forename: Selim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karayalçin
authors.forename: Muhsin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: Hülya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cetinkaya
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bozkaya
authors.forename: Cihan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yurdaydin