Surgical and interventional radiographic treatment of dogs with hepatic arteriovenous fistulae.
OBJECTIVE
To report outcome after surgical and interventional radiographic treatment of hepatic arteriovenous fistulae (HAVF) in dogs.


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
Dogs (n=20) with HAVF.


METHODS
Medical records of dogs with HAVF were reviewed. Referring veterinarians and owners were contacted by telephone. History, clinical signs, biochemical and hematologic variables, ultrasonographic and angiographic findings, surgical findings, techniques used to correct the HAVF, survival time, and clinical follow-up were recorded.


RESULTS
Canine HAVF often appeared to be an arteriovenous malformation rather than a single fistula. Multiple extrahepatic portosystemic shunts were identified in 19 dogs. Surgery (lobectomy or ligation of the nutrient artery) and/or interventional radiology (glue embolization of the abnormal arterial vessels) was performed in 17 dogs. Thirteen dogs were treated by surgery alone, 4 dogs by glue embolization alone, and 1 dog by glue embolization and surgery. Three dogs treated by surgery alone died <1 month later, and 3 dogs were subsequently euthanatized or died because of persistent clinical signs. None of the dogs treated by glue embolization died <1month after the procedure and all were alive, without clinical signs, at follow-up (9-17 months). Overall, 9 of 12 (75%) dogs with long-term follow-up required dietary or medical management of clinical signs.


CONCLUSIONS
HAVF-related death occurred less frequently after glue embolization than after surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Glue embolization may be a good alternative to surgery for treatment of certain canine HAVF.
Chanoit
Guillaume
G
Department of Small Animal Surgery, National Veterinary School of Lyon, Lyon, France.
Kyles
Andrew E
AE
Weisse
Chick
C
Hardie
Elizabeth M
EM
D000818:Animals; D001164:Arteriovenous Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D002140:California; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000002:abnormalities*; D008297:Male; D009657:North Carolina; D010414:Pennsylvania; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000002:abnormalities*; D011859:Radiography; D011996:Records / Q000662:veterinary; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography