BUDD-CHIARI SYNDROME SECONDARY TO TRAUMAT IC STENOSIS OF THE INFERIORVENA-CAVA

Budd-Chiari syndrome with inferior vena cava involvement is usually du e to membranous obstruction; traumatic origin of inferior vena cava le sions is very rare. We report a case of Budd-Chiari syndrome in a 29 y ear-old man, 3 years after an abdominal trauma. Cavography showed 50 % stenosis in the sushepatic portion of the inferior vena cava. After t wo unsuccessful percutaneous transluminal angioplasty procedures, a su rgical resection of the stenotic vein was performed. The histological study of the stenotic segments showed that the three layers of the ven ous wall had been replaced by a dense fibrous tissue. No inflammation or thrombosis were found. This case of stenosis of the vena cava shows that histological examination can be used to assess the traumatic nat ure of the lesion, showing a different histological pattern from that of the membranous obstruction in which the basic structure of the veno us wall is preserved.