CHIARI-BUDD SYNDROME

SYMPTOMS

Chiari-Budd syndrome has the following symptoms:

• Upper abdominal discomfort
• Ascites
• Liver failure
• Jaundice (skin, whites of the eyes, and mucous membranes turn yellow)
• Tender and enlarged liver
• Swelling in the legs
• Hepatic encephalopathy induced by liver illness (reduced brain functioning caused by liver disease)
• Vomiting
• Bleeding in the esophagus
• Spleen enlargement
• Extreme tiredness

DIAGNOSIS

A physical examination and some tests are used to diagnose Budd-Chiari syndrome. Your doctor will ask about your problems and check for Budd-Chiari signs.

Blood tests will be ordered by your doctor to see how well your liver is working. To detect if your veins are blocked by clots, imaging studies will be performed. These tests include the following:

• Ultrasound. This is a tool that uses high-frequency sound waves to pass through the body’s tissues. The echoes are captured and converted into videos or photos of the body’s internal systems.
• CT scan. This is used to create pictures of a cross-section of the body in a computed tomography scan.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This test creates precise images of the body using a strong magnet, radio waves, and a computer.

TREATMENT

Chiari-Budd syndrome treatments are intended to dissolve blood clots and enhance blood flow in the liver. Drug treatment, non-surgical methods, and surgery are the most common treatments:

• Medications. Drugs to dissolve blood clots would be recommended by your doctor. Warfarin, a blood thinner, is often given to avoid future lumps.
• Procedures. Budd-Chiari syndrome is treated with two non-surgical procedures: a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty.

A transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt is a radiologic operation that involves placing a stent in the center of the liver to redirect blood flow. A radiologist connects the portal vein that transports blood from the digestive organs to the liver, one of the hepatic veins, by creating a tunnel through the liver with the use of the needle.

On the other hand, in percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, a catheter is inserted through the skin and into a blood vessel during this treatment. The catheter is directed to the clot’s exact location.