Objective To explore the feasibility of interventional therapy in rat models of Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS). Methods A total of 50 male clean SD rats were divided into model group and control group using random number table method, with 25 rats in each group. In the model group, BCS rat model was constructed by adopting partial ligation of the inferior vena cava (IVC), and the control group only had separation of surrounding tissues of IVC. Liver function was studied 12 weeks after postoperative raising, and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and interventional therapy were performed, coupled with liver histopathology staining. Results Twenty BCS rats survived till the 12th week of raising, with the survival rate reaching 80.0%, and 22 survived in the control group. Compared with the control group, ALT [(43.1±5.5) U/L vs. (62.6±4.6) U/L] and AST [(84.7±26.5) U/L vs. (161.7±25.8) U/L)] in serum of rats in the model group increased, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). HE staining showed that obvious hepatocyte necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration were observed in BCS rats, and liver fibrosis was spotted via Masson staining. DSA examination found IVC obstruction in the model group, among which 14 (70.0%, 14/20) received interventional therapy after successful probing of IVC obstructed segment, and 7 had balloon dilatation with a diameter of 3.5 mm, with 6 (85.7%, 6/7) successfully dilatatedand the other 1 (14.3%, 1/7) failed; the remaining 7 had balloon dilatation with a diameter of 4.5 mm, with 2 (28.6%, 2/7) successfully dilatated, and the other 5 (71.4%, 5/7) died of IVC rupture. Conclusion The BCS rat models by partial ligation of IVC can well simulate the pathophysiological changes and angiopathy characteristics of IVC obstructive BCS patients, which provide a platform for the basic research of interventional therapy of BCS. Key words: Budd-Chiari syndrome; Model, animal; Vena cava, inferior; Rat, Sprague-Dawley; Interventional treatment