Rare Budd-Chiari Syndrome: Blocked Liver Veins Cause Severe Damage
The liver, a vital organ, acts as a blood filter, removing toxins and waste before it returns to the heart. Impediments in this process, such as those causing Budd-Chiari syndrome, can lead to severe liver damage.
Budd-Chiari syndrome occurs when the outflow of blood from the hepatic veins is obstructed. This rare condition can be triggered by liver vein thrombosis, often stemming from underlying issues like chronic liver congestion from heart failure. The hepatic veins, which carry oxygen-depleted blood from the liver, are key to this process. They can be divided into upper and lower groups. The upper group typically consists of three large veins draining the right, middle, and left lobes of the liver, while the lower group varies in number and originates from the lower parts of the right or caudate lobe. These veins, devoid of valves, also transport blood from the colon, pancreas, small intestine, and stomach after it has been cleaned by the liver.
Budd-Chiari syndrome, a rare but serious condition, can lead to severe liver complications. It results from obstruction in the hepatic veins, which play a crucial role in filtering and transporting blood from the liver back to the heart.
