BACKGROUND: Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) refers to posthepatic portal vein hypertension and/or inferior vena cava hypertension syndrome caused by obstruction of the blood flow at the portal cardinal hepatic vein and/or posterior hepatic inferior vena cava. The main surgical treatments of BCS include operations on pathological lesioned membrane, shunt, and combined operations. There are more than ten treatments available and reports on their therapeutic effects vary. As to operations on lesioned membrane, there are Kimura's finger rupture, balloon dilatation and membrane removal. With reference to our experience, the clinical value of membrane resection at normal temperature and under direct vision is discussed.
METHODS: A total of 292 patients with BCS undergoing membrane resection at normal temperature and under direct vision from June 1996 to June 2005 were retrospectively analyzed.
RESULTS: The short-term therapeutic effect in 256 patients was satisfactory and the effective rate was 87.7% (256/292). Within a week, ascitic fluid disappeared, the liver shrank and edema of the lower extremities was greatly relieved or even disappeared. Perioperative death occurred in 14 patients (4.8%). Of these, 3 had acute heart failure (one during the operation, one after 6 hours and one 7 days later). Six patients had thoracic cavity bleeding within 12 hours after the operation, 3 had acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), 2 had disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), and 1 had pulmonary embolism. 158 patients were followed up for 6 months to 12 years, and 12 (7.6%) had recurrences.
CONCLUSIONS:  After membrane resection at normal temperature and under direct vision, hemodynamics was found to be close to normal, damage was slight, effectiveness was evident and the recurrence rate low. So this method is effective in treating BCS.