Objective:To explore the prevention and feasibility of surgical and endovascular treatment of cardiac tamponade in or after the interventional management of Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS).
Methods:The clinical data  of 7 BCS patients who developed acute or delayed cardiac tamponade during the interventional procedure were retrospectively analyzed. Pericardiocenteses were performed in all patients, of which 3 cases also underwent surgical decompression of the pericardium and repair of rupture of the inferior vena cava, and 1 case underwent endovascular stent-graft implantation.
Results:All patients were cured except one who died of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome due to misdiagnosis as acute right heart failure. Two patients undergoing pericardiocentesis received a second BCS interventional therapy 1 month later and were cured. The patients were followed up for 12 to 30 months with average of 18 months. All patients had no discomfort or lower extremities edema. No cardiac effusion or ascites was detected, and the hepatic veins and inferior vena cava were patent under ultrasound.
Conclusions:Cardiac tamponade is a severe complication of BCS interventional therapy. Once it has occurred, emergent surgical or endovascular treatment could save the patient′s life. Meanwile, an effective multidisciplinary cooperation is the important assurance of success.