Abstract

A 21 year-old male patient had a diagnosis of Budd-Chiari syndrome caused by inferior vena caval obstruction. Conservative medical therapy failed to control the symptoms of both portal hypertension and inferior vena caval stasis. Portocaval or mesocaval shunts may relive the symptoms of chronic forms of Budd-Chiari syndrome. But when inferior vena caval stenosis is severe, another procedure has to be used. Cavoatrial or portoatrial shunt has been suggested. Therefore, a long Dacron graft was placed from the inferior vena cava just below the left renal vein to the right atrium. He exhibited almost complete relief of symptoms for 1.5 year postoperatively. And there was angiographic proof of patency of the graft. This simple procedure should be encouraged in treatment of these patients.

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