The Change in Liver Volume After Inferior Vena Cava and/or Hepatic Vein Venoplasty in Patients With Budd Chiari Syndrome With at Least One Patent Hepatic Vein Presenting With Ascites

Abstract

Objective

To assess the effects of inferior vena cava and/or hepatic vein (IVC±HV) venoplasty on liver volumetry and function in individuals with Budd Chiari syndrome (BCS) who present with ascites and at least one patent hepatic vein.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 17 patients with BCS (6 males and 11 females, average age of 42.3 ± 11.9 years) who underwent IVC venoplasty for ascites caused by IVC blockage and at least one patent HV, either pre- or post-venoplasty. Liver function tests and abdominal CT scans were performed before the procedure and at three and six months post-venoplasty. The changes in liver function and volume before and after venoplasty were analyzed.

Results

Each of the 17 patients successfully underwent IVC±HV venoplasty. During the median follow-up period of six months, all patients survived. Comparisons with preoperative conditions showed significant improvements in ascites and liver function three and six months after the procedure (P < 0.05). The liver volumes measured before and at three- and six-months post-procedure were 2077.06 ± 185.53 cm³, 1742.00 ± 124.62 cm³, and 1632.71 ± 108.29 cm³, respectively. There was a significant decrease in liver volume between the pre-operative measurements and the three-month follow-up, as well as between the three-month and six-month follow-ups (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

IVC±HV venoplasty produced satisfactory clinical results in BCS patients. Following the intervention, there was a progressive decrease in hepatic congestion and an improvement in liver function which correlated with decrease in liver volume.