Purpose: To compare percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty (PTBA) alone with PTBA plus stent placement for Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) patients with short-segmental obstruction of hepatic vein.
Methods: Between May 2001 and December 2010, 91 hepatic vein type BCS patients (mean age, 32.8 ± 10.8; M:F ratio 50:41) were included and divided into two groups (PTBA alone, as group A, n = 48; PTBA plus stent, as group B, n = 43). The incidence of restenosis, long-term patency, and survival were evaluated.
Results: All 91 patients were successfully treated with hepatic vein recanalization. During follow-up period (median 161 months, range: 84-234), group B had a significantly higher proportion of hepatic vein restenosis (56%, 24/43) than group A (33%, 16/48; P < 0.05). Cumulative primary patency rates at 1, 5, 10, 15 years were 96%, 81%, 69%, 65% and 91%, 60%, 47%, 47% in group A and group B, respectively (log-rank P < 0.05). Secondary technical success rates of target hepatic vein were 93% and 57% in group A and group B, respectively (P < 0.05). Clinical complete response rates were 94% and 86% in group A and group B, respectively (P > 0.05). The 15-year cumulative survival rates were 98% and 95% in group A and group B, respectively (P > 0.05). Major procedure-related complications occurred in 3 (3%) patients (1 in group A, 2 in group B).
Conclusions: Hepatic vein recanalization is safe and efficient for hepatic vein type BCS patients with hepatic vein short segmental obstruction. Restenosis after hepatic vein stenting is more common and difficult to manage than that after hepatic vein balloon angioplasty alone.
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