title: Association between hepatic histopathologic lesions and clinical findings in dogs undergoing surgical attenuation of a congenital portosystemic shunt: 38 cases (2000-2004).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review hepatic histopathologic lesions in dogs undergoing surgical attenuation of a congenital portosystemic shunt (CPSS) in relation to clinical findings and tolerance of complete surgical attenuation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  38 dogs that underwent surgical attenuation of a CPSS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hepatic histologic examination findings and medical records of dogs undergoing surgical attenuation of a single CPSS between August 2000 and July 2004 were reviewed. Liver biopsy specimens were obtained from 38 dogs during surgery prior to complete (n = 16) or partial (22) attenuation of a CPSS and from 13 of the same dogs a median of 3 months following surgical attenuation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Portal tracts were inadequate for interpretation in 2 liver biopsy specimens. Liver biopsy specimens obtained prior to surgical attenuation of a CPSS had a lack of identifiable portal veins (13/36 dogs), hepatic arteriolar proliferation (25/36), ductular reaction (5/36), steatosis (16/38), and iron accumulation (32/38). Lack of identifiable portal veins on histologic examination was associated with increased hepatic arteriolar proliferation, decreased tolerance to complete surgical CPSS attenuation, and decreased opacification of intrahepatic portal vessels on portovenography. Ductular reaction was always associated with failure to tolerate complete surgical attenuation of a CPSS. Surgical CPSS attenuation resulted in significant clinical, serum biochemical, and portovenographic changes indicative of improved liver function, but only subtle changes in hepatic histologic examination findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dogs without identifiable intrahepatic portal veins that had a ductular reaction on hepatic histologic examination were less likely to tolerate complete attenuation of a CPSS.
authors: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, England. klee@rvc.ac.uk
authors: Karla C L
authors: KC
authors: Lee
authors: Alison
authors: A
authors: Winstanley
authors: Jacqueline V
authors: JV
authors: House
authors: Victoria
authors: V
authors: Lipscomb
authors: Christopher
authors: C
authors: Lamb
authors: Susan
authors: S
authors: Gregory
authors: Rajiv
authors: R
authors: Jalan
authors: Rajeshwar P
authors: RP
authors: Mookerjee
authors: Daniel J
authors: DJ
authors: Brockman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D011168:Portal System / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D011172:Portography / Q000662:veterinary; D012189:Retrospective Studies