Coagulation profiles in dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts before and after surgical attenuation.
BACKGROUND
Serious postoperative hemorrhage has been reported in dogs after closure of congenital portosystemic shunts (CPS).


OBJECTIVE
In dogs with portosystemic shunting, low coagulation factor activity is responsible for coagulopathy, which can cause complications after surgery.


METHODS
Thirty-four dogs with CPS and 39 healthy dogs.


METHODS
In a prospective study, coagulation times, platelet count, and the activity of 8 coagulation factors were measured in dogs before and after surgical shunt attenuation and in 31 healthy dogs. The effect of abdominal surgery on hemostasis was determined at ovariectomy in 8 healthy dogs.


RESULTS
Dogs with CPS had lower platelet counts, lower activity of factors II, V, VII, and X, and increased factor VIII and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) compared to healthy dogs. After surgical attenuation, dogs with CPS had decreased platelet counts and activity of factors I, II, V, VII, IX, X, and XI and a prolonged prothrombin time (PT). Ovariectomy resulted in decreased activity of factors VII and X. Six weeks after surgery, portosystemic shunting persisted in 9 of 30 dogs, with no improvement of hemostatic values. CPS dogs without shunting had improved coagulation times and increased activity of factors II, V, VII, and X.


CONCLUSIONS
Dogs with CPS have lower activity of clotting factors compared to healthy dogs, resulting in a prolonged APTT. Surgical attenuation of the shunt results in increased abnormalities in coagulation times and factors immediately after surgery. Hemostasis is normalized after complete recovery of shunting after attenuation, in contrast to dogs with persistent shunting.
Kummeling
Anne
A
Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands. A.Kummeling@vet.uu.nl
Teske
Erik
E
Rothuizen
Jan
J
Van Sluijs
Frederik J
FJ
D000818:Animals; D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors / Q000032:analysis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000151:congenital; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000662:veterinary; D010314:Partial Thromboplastin Time / Q000662:veterinary; D010976:Platelet Count / Q000662:veterinary; D011168:Portal System / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery*; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011517:Prothrombin Time / Q000662:veterinary; D014914:Whole Blood Coagulation Time / Q000662:veterinary
D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors