We report the rare case of a female who presented with fulminant liver failure secondary to acute Budd-Chiari syndrome and complete portal vein thrombosis. She met the criterion for liver transplant and was transferred to our care for assessment and further management. Transplant was deemed a too-high risk and so rescue therapy was undertaken using mechanical thrombectomy and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt insertion to decompress the portal system. The patient made a full recovery. This is a rare case report of a patient meeting liver transplant criteria secondary to acute Budd-Chiari syndrome and complete portal vein thrombosis, which was managed successfully entirely by radiological means; this technique could be used to avoid or act as a bridge to liver transplantation in the future.