Objective To explore the feasibility of the Budd-Chiari syndrome model establishment in rat by using the inferior vena cava coarctation. Methods Fifty SD rats were randomly divided into experimental group and sham operation group, the laparotomy was performed after general anesthesia by intraperitoneal injection, and dissociated the inferior vena cava. In the experimental group, the vena cava was tightly ligated with silk thread according to partial portal vein coarctation, enclosing 23 G L-style blunt needle in the ligature to prevent complete obliteration. The diameter of the vena cava was set to about 80% of its normal size after removing the 23 G L-style blunt needle. The abdominal Doppler, liver function, blood routine examination, and liver biopsy were tested at different time (on week 1, 4, 8, and 12) after operation. Results The signs of inferior vena cava and primary hepatic venous obstruction, liver congestion and cirrhosis, ascites, hepatosplenomegaly, portal vein extension, and collateral patency occurred on week 4 in the experimental group. The levels of AST, ALT, AKP, TBIL, DBIL, and TBA in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the sham operation group (P<0.05), and the WBC, PLT, RBC, HGB, and ALB in the experimental group was significantly lower than those in the sham operation group (P<0.05). Conclusion The inferior vena cava coarctation can be successfully used to establish a rat model of Budd-Chiari syndrome.