Radical open endvenectomy with autologous pericardial patch graft for correction of Budd-Chiari syndrome.

A surgical technique for the treatment of Budd-Chiari syndrome associated with vena caval obstruction has been devised. The occluded hepatic vena cava and hepatic veins were reconstructed by open endvenectomy, using an autologous pericardial patch graft and a femorofemoral bypass technique. The hepatic artery and portal vein were not controlled with vascular clamps during the surgery. Between 1979 and 1994, 29 patients were treated using this technique and achieved good results. All the patients did well with good function of the reconstructed vena cava and of the hepatic veins, and showed acceptable reduction of symptoms caused by portal hypertension and caval stagnation.