This report describes two patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome with intr
actable ascites due to a tight hepatic vein stenosis while the other h
epatic veins were occluded, Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of t
he hepatic vein stenosis followed by insertion of expandable metallic
stents reduced the pressure gradient across the stenosis to almost zer
o, In both patients, ascites disappeared and diuretic therapy could be
reduced significantly, This treatment has remained effective for more
than 1 yr in one case and 2 yr in the other, These cases demonstrate
the feasibility of hepatic vein stenting as a therapy for hepatic veno
us outflow obstruction, This therapy may be used in selected patients
to defer and perhaps avoid shunt-surgery or liver transplantation.