Budd-Chiari Syndrome By Whitney Jackson, MD, University of Colorado School of Medicine Reviewed / Revised Jan 2022 | Modified Sep 2022 View Patient Education Etiology Symptoms and Signs Diagnosis Prognosis Treatment Key Points Topic Resources Portal Circulation Budd-Chiari syndrome is obstruction of hepatic venous outflow that originates anywhere from the small hepatic veins inside the liver to the inferior vena cava and right atrium.