We report a case of a 45-year-old woman with Budd-Chiari syndrome caused by the obstruction of the inferior vena cava just below the diaphragm. Transatrial dilatation or membranotomy was not possible due to the severe fibrotic obliteration of the inferior vena cava. Instead, cavoatrial bypass with a Dacron graft[20 mm-Vascutek] was performed under the median sternotomy and median abdominal incision.The postoperative course was uneventful and generalized symptoms were much improved. During the following period[6 month] the graft patency was maintained with no recurrence of symptoms.