Surgical management of multiple congenital intrahepatic shunts in two dogs: case report.
OBJECTIVE
To present details of an unusual type of portosystemic shunt and its surgical management in two dogs.


METHODS
Two young dogs that had a tentative diagnosis of a portosystemic shunt on the basis of clinical signs and serum biochemical abnormalities. Abdominal ultrasonography and contrast portography demonstrated multiple intrahepatic shunts. In both cases, the multiple shunts arose from a single branch of the portal vein.


RESULTS
It was possible to locate and attenuate flow through the shunts via a transportal venotomy under conditions of hepatic vascular occlusion. Clinical and biochemical abnormalities resolved after surgery in both dogs. Postoperative sonography revealed complete obliteration of the shunt plexus in one of the dogs.
Hunt
G B
GB
Department of Veterinary Anatomy, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Youmans
K R
KR
Sommerlad
S
S
Swinney
G
G
Nicholson
A
A
Melville
L
L
Hoffman
K L
KL
Allan
G S
GS
D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply; D008297:Male; D011168:Portal System / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery; D011172:Portography / Q000662:veterinary; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D014463:Ultrasonography