Meso-cavo-atrial shunt in the treatment of combined Budd-Chiari syndrome

Abstract

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of the meso-cavo-atrial shunt (MCAS) in the treatment of combined Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS). Methods The clinical data of 17 cases of combined BCS with all or bilateral hepatic vein occlusion and long range occlusion or obstruction of inferior vena cava (IVC) were admitted to the Qilu Hospital from February 2000 to May 2004. All patients were treated by MCAS with artificial blood vessels. The pre- and postoperative clinical symptoms, the IVC and portal venous (PV) pressures, the incidence of postoperative complications and the patency rate of the artificial vessels were analyzed. The survival of patients was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier analysis, and the data were analyzed using the chi-square test and t test. Results No patient died during the perioperative period, and the symptoms of 15 patients disappeared or were relieved after operation, with a significant difference compared with those before operation (χ2 =9.78, P <0. 05 ). Three patients had complications after the operation. The postoperative PV and IVC pressures were decreased by 1.2 cm H2O (1 cm H2O =0.098 kPa) and 18.5 cm H2O, respectively. There were significant differences in the decrease of IVC and PV pressures ( t = 2.38, 3.06, P < 0.05 ). The 1-, 3-, 5-year survival rates were 16/17, 15/17 and 14/17, respectively, and the 5-year patency rate of the artificial vessels was 14/17.Conclusions MCAS can simultaneously relieve IVC and PV hypertension for patients with combined BCS. The postoperative complication rate was decreased, the 5-year survival rate and the patency rate of the artificial vessels were improved after the treatment, so MCAS is an optional surgical method for treating combined BCS. Key words: Budd-Chiari syndrome; Artificial vessels; Shunt