Analysis of complications in interventional therapy of 500 cases with Budd-Chiari syndrome

Objective: To discuss the causes and preventive measures of the peri- and postoperative complications of interventional therapy in treating Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS). Methods: From 1990 to 2002, a total of 500 cases with BCS treated with interventional therapy were included in this study. 120 of them received both percutaneous transluminal balloon dilatation and endovascular stent (PTA + stent), and the other 380 cases were treated by percutaneous transluminal balloon dilatation (PTA) alone. Results: The incidence of complication was seen in 58 cases (11.6%), and the death rate was 0.2% in the interventional therapy of BCS. The perioperative complications included puncture into pericardium (n=9, 1.8%), including 3 cases with pericardial effusion (one died); migration of the stent into the right atrium (n=2 , 0.4%); thoracic hemorrhage (n=1, 0.2%), and abdominal hemorrhage (n=2, 0.4%). The postoperative complications included acute restenosis of the treated vessel formation (n=27) including 22 cases (5.8%, 22/380) in simple PTA and 5(4.2%, 5/120) after PTA + stent, pseudoaneurysm (n=3, 0.6%), hematoma (n=10, 2.0%) at the puncture site, and thrombosis of the limb (n=4, 0.8%). Conclusion: The interventional therapy of BCS is a safe and effective method. Effective measures should be taken to evade and reduce the occurrence of the complications