Woman overcomes Budd-Chiari syndrome

Manisha Rane (name changed),a 43-year-old single mother from Pimpri-Chinchwad who was suffering from a unique medical condition,recently underwent a successful operation. She suffered from hepatic vein thrombosis,also known as Budd-Chiari syndrome,where the veins which carry the blood away from the liver are occluded. It is a potentially life-threatening condition that leads to cirrhosis of the liver.

Rane was complaining of pain in the abdomen,swelling of the abdomen,jaundice and tiredness. She had been examined over the last few months and the previous investigations had shown free fluid in the abdomen,but were otherwise unremarkable, said Dr Mukesh Chawla,consultant gastroenterologist at Aditya Birla Hospital in Chinchwad.

An investigation by Chawla along with interventional radiologist Dr Mukul Mutatkar and haematologist Dr Sandeep Bartakke revealed that Manisha was suffering from an advanced form of Budd-Chiari syndrome.

The team of doctors chose to do a T ran jugular Intra-hepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS) which is similar to a surgical shunt but is done via a percutaneous route using tiny skin punctures with no need for large incisions or cuts.

Using this technique,the interventional team was able to bypass the blocked veins in the liver and divert blood flow from the abdomen towards the heart. She was able to walk from the first day of the procedure,doctors said.