Published online Sep 14, 2020. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v26.i34.5060
Peer-review started: April 19, 2020
First decision: June 4, 2020
Revised: June 6, 2020
Accepted: August 25, 2020
Article in press: August 25, 2020
Published online: September 14, 2020
Processing time: 143 Days and 4.2 Hours
Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is a relatively rare clinical condition with a wide range of symptomatology, caused by the obstruction of the hepatic venous outflow. If left untreated, it has got an high mortality rate. Its management is based on a step-wise approach, depending on the clinical presentation, and includes different treatment from anticoagulation therapy up to Interventional Radiology techniques, such as transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS). TIPS is today considered a safe and highly effective treatment and should be recommended for BCS patients, including those awaiting orthotopic liver transplantation. In this review the pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment options of BCS are presented, with a special focus on published data regarding the techniques and outcomes of TIPS for the treatment of BCS. Moreover, unresolved issues and future research will be discussed.
Core Tip: Among the available treatment options for Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS), transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) has got a pivotal role, with different opinions among the physicians during the last decade. The aim of this review is to summarize the latest data available in literature, focusing on those regarding the safety and efficacy of TIPS for the treatment of BCS and to discuss unresolved issues and future perspectives.