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Hepatic vein obstruction (Budd-Chiari) - Treatment

Alternative Names

Budd-Chiari syndrome; Hepatic veno-occlusive disease

Treatment:

Treatment varies, depending on the cause of the blockage.

Medical treatments:

Blood-thinning (anticoagulation) medications
Clot-busting drugs (thrombolytic treatment)
Treatment for the liver disease, including ascites

Surgical treatments:

Angioplasty and stent placement
Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS)
Other surgeries

Complications:

Hepatic vein obstruction can get worse and lead to liver failure, which can be life-threatening.

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if:

You have symptoms of hepatic vein obstruction
You are being treated for this condition and you develop new symptoms

Digestive system

Digestive system organs

Reviewed last on: 8/22/2008
Christian Stone, MD, Division of Gastroenterology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Zimmerman MA, Cameron AM, Ghobrial RM. Budd-Chiari syndrome. Clin Liver Dis. 2006;10:259-273.

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