An Essay Discussing Budd-Chiari Syndrome

Abstract

Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is defined as hepatic venous outflow tract obstruction, independent of the level or mechanism of obstruction, provided the obstruction is not due to cardiac disease, pericardial disease, or sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (veno-occlusive disease). Primary Budd-Chiari syndrome is present when there is obstruction due to a predominantly venous process (thrombosis or phlebitis), whereas secondary Budd-Chiari is present when there is compression or invasion of the hepatic veins and/or the inferior vena cava by a lesion that originates outside of the vein, for example: malignancy. The onset of Budd-Chiari syndrome happens over an extended time, or it occurs very suddenly. Some people with this syndrome have more veins that are affected, or the affected veins are in more difficult areas of the liver; these individuals have more serious form of the syndrome than those with fewer veins impacted in the liver. Budd-Chiari Syndrome is also known as Hepatic Veno-Occlussive Disease, Budd’s Syndrome, and Rokitansky’s Disease.