Budd-Chiari syndrome as late complication of secundum atrial septal defect closure.

A young adult patient, in whom 20 years previously a secundum atrial septal defect had been closed surgically, presented with symptoms of a Budd-Chiari syndrome, cirrhosis of the liver, ascites, and edema of the lower legs. The inferior vena cava-right atrial junction was obstructed by a calcified Teflon patch and shrinkage of the surrounding tissue. Augmentation of the inferior vena cava-right atrial junction with a Gore-Tex patch resulted in unobstructed inflow into the right atrium.