ObjectiveTo evaluate the applicability and the long-term outcomes of percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty (PTBA) in the management of Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) secondary to hepatic venous obstruction. MethodsClinical data of 94 patients with BCS secondary to hepatic venous obstruction who underwent PTBA of the hepatic vein from Jan. 2005 to Dec. 2013 in The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were analyzed retrospectively. ResultsPTBA were technically successful in 93 of the 94 patients (98.94%). Ninety-one of the 93 patients (97.85%) were treated with PTBA alone and 2 patients (2.15%) were treated with PTBA and stent. One patient with primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) underwent resection of liver cancer after interventional therapy. Hepatic venous pressure value of 93 patients was significantly decreased after balloon interventional procedures. Symptoms were significantly improved in the 93 patients who had successful PTBA. Procedure-related complications occurred in 6 of the 93 patients (6.38%), and 1 patient (1.06%) died in 2 months after operation because of intra-abdominal bleeding. Two patients lost during follow-up with a follow-up loss rate of 2.15% (2/93), and the 91 patients were followed-up for 1-96 months [(49.72±28.60) months]. HCC occurred in 3 patients during follow-up period. Restenosis of targeted hepatic vein developed in 8 patients (11 times), and the overall recurrence rate was 11.83% (11/93). One patient of them underwent surgical operation, the remaining 7 patients underwent PTBA successfully. The 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year primary patency rates were 97.47% (77/79), 94.20% (65/69), 91.67% (55/60), and 91.67% (33/36), respectively. The 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year secondary patency rates were 98.73% (78/79), 98.55% (68/69), 98.33% (59/60), and 97.22% (35/36), respectively. ConclusionsPTBA is a safe and effective treatment for BCS with the hepatic vein obstruction and had good mild-term outcomes. The liver function of the patients improved after treatment, with few patients died from HCC caused by hepatic cirrhosis, so we must pay attention on it, as well as the targeted hepatic vein.