title: Transvenous retrograde portography for identification and characterization of portosystemic shunts in dogs.
abstract: Transvenous retrograde portography for identification and characterization of portosystemic shunts in dogs A method for transvenous retrograde portography (TRP) in dogs suspected to have a portosystemic shunt (PSS) and results in 20 dogs are described. For TRP, dogs were anesthetized and positioned in left lateral recumbency A dual-lumen balloon-tipped catheter was inserted into the right jugular vein and advanced into the azygos vein. The balloon was inflated to occlude the azygos vein, and contrast material was injected during fluoroscopic evaluation. The catheter was then positioned in the caudal vena cava just cranial to the diaphragm. The balloon was again inflated to occlude the vena cava, and contrast material was again injected. Once a shunt was identified, selective catheterization was attempted with a guide wire and angled catheter. A PSS was identified in 18 of the 20 dogs. In 10 of the 18, the shunt vessel could be selectively catheterized, allowing measurement of portal pressures while the shunt was occluded with the balloon. In 1 dog, results of TRP were normal, but subsequent exploratory celiotomy revealed a single extrahepatic PSS, which was surgically attenuated. The other dog in which results of TRP were normal did not have a macroscopic PSS. In dogs suspected to have a PSS, TRP may be a useful adjunctive diagnostic test that is less invasive than operative mesenteric vein portography and allows measurement of portal pressures before and after temporary shunt occlusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery and Michael E. DeBakey Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4474, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Theresa W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Fossum
authors.forename: Anne M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bahr
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002404:Catheterization / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D004285:Dogs; D008026:Ligation / Q000662:veterinary; D017082:Portal Pressure; D011168:Portal System / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011172:Portography / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000601:surgery