Comparison of survival after surgical or medical treatment in dogs with a congenital portosystemic shunt.
OBJECTIVE
To compare survival of dogs with a congenital portosystemic shunt (CPSS) that received medical or surgical treatment.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
126 client-owned dogs with a single CPSS.


METHODS
Dogs were examined at 1 of 3 referral clinics, and a single CPSS was diagnosed in each. Dogs received medical or surgical treatment without regard to signalment, clinical signs, or results of hematologic or biochemical analysis. Survival data were analyzed via a Cox regression model.


RESULTS
During a median follow-up period of 579 days, 18 of 126 dogs died as a result of CPSS. Dogs treated via surgical intervention survived significantly longer than did those treated medically. Hazard ratio for medical versus surgical treatment of CPSS (for the treatment-only model) was 2.9 (95% confidence interval, 1.1 to 7.2). Age at CPSS diagnosis did not affect survival.


CONCLUSIONS
Both medical and surgical treatment can be used to achieve long-term survival of dogs with CPSS, although results of statistical analysis supported the widely held belief that surgery is preferable to medical treatment. However, the study population consisted of dogs at referral clinics, which suggested that efficacy of medical treatment may have been underestimated. Although surgical intervention was associated with a better chance of long-term survival, medical management provided an acceptable first-line option. Age at examination did not affect survival, which implied that early surgical intervention was not essential. Dogs with CPSS that do not achieve acceptable resolution with medical treatment can subsequently be treated surgically.
Greenhalgh
Stephen N
SN
Department of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary School, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, England.
Dunning
Mark D
MD
McKinley
Trevelyan J
TJ
Goodfellow
Mark R
MR
Kelman
Khama R
KR
Freitag
Thurid
T
O'Neill
Emma J
EJ
Hall
Ed J
EJ
Watson
Penny J
PJ
Jeffery
Nick D
ND
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D004187:Disaccharides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000151:congenital / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000151:congenital / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D011168:Portal System / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004187:Disaccharides