Long-term Outcome of Recoverable stents for Budd-Chiari syndrome Complicated with Inferior Vena Cava Thrombosis

This study aimed to present long-term results of a 12-year patient follow-up of recoverable stents for BCS complicated by inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombosis. Forty consecutive patients with BCS complicated by IVC thrombosis were treated with recoverable stents. The median duration of symptoms was 24 months. Recoverable stents was placed after predilation of the obstructed IVC, and then agitation thrombolysis or catheter-directed thrombolysis of IVC was performed. The recoverable stents was removed eventually after thrombus disappeared. Clinical patency was defined as absence or improvement of symptoms. Patients were subsequently followed-up by color Doppler ultrasound. Recoverable stents placement, balloon angioplasty and thrombolysis were technically successful in all patients. Stents were successfully removed in 92.1% of patients. A few serious related complications including one acute pulmonary thromboembolism, one stent migration, and one failure retrieval stents occurred. The median follow-up was 43.7 months. The long-term results were satisfactory except 2 patients who presented with a restenosis or re-obstruction and underwent additional therapy. There were 5 deaths owing to pulmonary embolism or underlying malignant disease 0.4–101.8 months after the procedures, including one procedure-related death. In conclusion, Recoverable stents treatment is safe and effective for BCS complicated by IVC thrombosis, with a good long-term outcome.