Liver transplantation for Budd-Chiari syndrome: A challenging but handable procedure

Abstract

Backround: Establishing venous outflow in liver transplantation for patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome is crucial and requires various surgical techniques. The outcomes of these patients exibits distinct problems including vasculary thrombosis and biliary complications. Methods: In this single center study, the outcomes and surgical features of 33 patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome who were carried out liver translantation (27 patients from living donor). Another group was formed among patients underwent liver transplantation due to other etiologies and the outcomes were compared. Results: The most-seen type was the classical type of Budd-Chiari syndrome (25, 75.8%). For twenty-six patients inherited or acquired prothrombotic disorders were identified (78.2%) in Budd-Chiari group. Average follow-up was 29.7 ± 15.5 months. We have observed no recurrence of disease in our BCS patients. When the two groups was compared in terms of thrombotic complications, there was a significantly increased risk in BCS group (p = 0.014). Our 1 and 3-year survival rates for the BCS group were 81.8% and 78.8%, respectively. In the control group, 1 and 3-year survival rates were 93.3% and 88.9%, respectively. Log-rank test analyses showed no statistically significant results. Conclusion: Liver transplantation with individual surgical and postoperative treatment strategy for patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome provides comparable outcomes.

Keywords

• Budd-Chiari syndrome
• Biliary complications
• Liver transplantation
• Living donor
• Thrombotic complications